KAMPHAENG PHET — 15 October 2026, A family of three was injured after their SUV plunged from a closed bridge on Thursday night, with residents saying barriers had been removed while repairs remained unfinished more than three years after the bridge collapsed.
Rescue workers from Wang Khaem Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and local police were called at 21:45 to Si Mongkhon Wachira Anusorn Bridge, commonly known as Wang Khaem Bridge, in Khlong Khlung district.
The Honda CR-V, registered in Bangkok, had overturned below the bridge. A 47-year-old man suffered a chest injury, while his 45-year-old wife sustained minor injuries. Their 11-year-old son was also in the vehicle.
Rescuers brought the family up from a depth of more than five metres before taking them to Khlong Khlung Hospital. The vehicle landed on sand rather than in a deep, fast-flowing section of the Ping River.
The bridge links Wang Khaem and Mae Lat subdistricts across the Ping River. It has been closed since early 2023, when it subsided and collapsed following strong currents and other natural damage, and remains under repair.
Residents said barriers normally prevent vehicles from entering the bridge from the Wat Chantharam side. However, a contractor reportedly removed the barriers two or three days earlier to bring equipment onto the bridge and did not replace them.
They said the family, who were from Samut Prakan and unfamiliar with the area, may not have known the bridge was closed.
Residents called on the responsible agencies to complete the repairs and strengthen safety measures, saying the incident could have been fatal.
