Two people were killed near Bangkok on Thursday when a construction crane collapsed on a highway, just one day after another crane failure linked to the same company left 32 dead, Thai authorities said.
Dashcam footage verified by AFP captured the terrifying moment the massive crane toppled, sending clouds of dust and debris across the road. Vehicles swerved, pulled over, or reversed to avoid being hit.
Motorcycle-taxi driver Booncherd La-orium said he no longer felt safe in the suburb outside the capital.
“I had goosebumps just thinking about how risky it is to be here. It could have happened to me,” the 69-year-old told AFP.
“I still can’t get over yesterday’s incident, and this morning I heard another one happened again.”
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed the firm Italian-Thai Development was involved in both deadly crane incidents, according to local media.
The previous day, a massive crane collapsed in Nakhon Ratchasima province while building a China-backed high-speed rail project, derailing a passenger train and killing 32 of nearly 200 people on board.
“Yes, it is Italian-Thai. I still do not understand what happened,” Phiphat told reporters.
“We have to find out the facts, whether it was an accident or something else,” he added, noting that two people had died in Thursday’s collapse.
Italian-Thai, one of Thailand’s largest construction firms, has been linked to multiple deadly accidents in recent years.
Local police chief Sitthiporn Kasi confirmed the crane that fell Thursday morning at the under-construction Rama II Expressway in Samut Sakhon province killed two people.
‘That was close’ –
In other verified dashcam footage, a voice is heard saying: “I almost died… Please pull over first.” Another responds: “That’s okay now. It’s not falling further. It’s a crane collapse again in front of me.”
“That was close,” the first person adds.
Rescue worker Sutthiwat Thanomsat arrived shortly after the crane hit, witnessing the aftermath, including a pickup truck driver killed by the impact.
“Injured people were taken to a local hospital,” he said.
The Rama II Expressway, a major route connecting Bangkok to southern Thailand, has been undergoing long-term expansion, earning the nickname “Death Road” due to repeated fatalities and delays.
Retiree Surachai Wongho, 61, said the recurring accidents are a growing concern for locals.
“It’s the same incident happening over and over again in Thailand. It’s time for the government to do something,” he told AFP.
Earlier incidents on the expressway include a March 2025 collapse of a concrete beam that killed several people, a crane accident in November 2024 that killed at least three workers, and other deadly accidents reported in May 2023 and January 2024.
Condolences and compensation –
Thursday’s incident followed Wednesday’s crane collapse in Nakhon Ratchasima, which officials described as one of the deadliest rail accidents in years.
A massive launching gantry crane toppled onto a passenger train, leaving 32 confirmed dead, three missing, and 64 hospitalized, including seven in serious condition.
Construction workers gathered at the Nakhon Ratchasima site on Thursday, taking photos of the wreckage, while relatives mourned and prayed in silence.
The crane remained suspended on concrete pillars intended to support the future elevated high-speed rail line, a joint Thailand-China project.
Italian-Thai expressed condolences, promising to compensate victims’ families and cover medical expenses for the injured. Thailand’s rail operator ordered the company to halt construction pending investigation.
Phiphat emphasized accountability for all parties involved, including Italian-Thai and a Chinese consultancy firm.
An Italian-Thai worker, who declined to give her name, said the crane operator who fell and died in Wednesday’s accident was Thai.
