NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 16 January 2026, A trailer truck transporting oil slammed into the rear of a paper-laden trailer, sparking a fire on Highway 304 in Wang Nam Khiao district of Nakhon Ratchasima province on Thursday morning, authorities said.
The accident occurred at about 10:30 on the Ratchasima–Kabin Buri road at kilometre marker 243, on the first uphill curve in the Wang Nam Khiao area near Ban Huai Nam Khem, in front of Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Forestry research and training station.
Rescue workers from the Hook 31 foundation in Udom Sap subdistrict said the oil tanker caught fire after rear-ending the paper truck. One person, the oil truck driver, was injured, suffering a head wound. Officials said the tanker was empty at the time, preventing a more serious disaster.
Fire engines from Udom Sap and Phu Luang subdistrict administrative organisations used water and foam to contain the blaze, which took more than 30 minutes to bring under control.
The crash caused traffic heading towards Kabin Buri to back up for several kilometres. Police from Udom Sap station worked to clear the scene and temporarily opened a special lane allowing vehicles to take turns using the opposite carriageway. Normal traffic flow was restored after more than one hour.
Police said the injured tanker driver told investigators he had returned from delivering fuel to a petrol station in Khon Kaen province and was driving an empty truck to collect more fuel from a depot in Rayong province. As he approached the uphill curve, he was unable to brake in time when a fully loaded paper trailer was travelling ahead, causing his vehicle to lose control and crash violently into the rear of the truck.
The paper truck sustained minor damage to its rear section and wheels, police said.
