Suspected Timber Poacher Arrested After Accidental Tree Fall Injures Tourists in Kanchanaburi
PUBLISHED: 3 Jan 2025 at 18:14
KANCHANABURI: A disturbing incident occurred on Friday morning when a tree, reportedly cut down illegally, fell onto a bus injured nine foreign tourists. Authorities have since arrested a suspect linked to the incident and confiscated a chainsaw and a pruning saw.
The bus, carrying 30 European tourists, was traveling on Highway 3199 in Tha Manao Village of Muang district when the tree fell, as reported by local police. Emergency services responded promptly after being alerted at around 10 am.
Upon arrival at the scene, officials found the bus, which was on its way to Erawan Waterfall in Sri Sawat district, with its windshield shattered from the impact of the fallen tree.
The injured tourists, comprising one man and eight women, suffered various injuries to their legs, arms, and faces due to broken branches and shattered glass. They received immediate first aid from rescuers before being transported to a local hospital, where they were later treated and discharged.
Initial inspections of the fallen tree revealed that it was not a natural occurrence; the tree had been cut down using an electric chainsaw, with piles of sawdust found nearby. In response, Paithoon Inthabut, head of the Salak Phra wildlife sanctuary, has mobilized teams to collaborate with police to track down individuals involved in illegal logging activities.
Following several investigations, authorities spotted a pickup truck driving through a forest area close to the site of the incident. The vehicle was pursued and subsequently stopped by the enforcement team. The driver, identified as a 39-year-old male from Phitsanulok, was arrested, and more evidence including a chainsaw and pruning saw was confiscated for further investigation.
