Driver dies, 5 tourists hurt as SUV drives off cliff in Chiang Rai

A SPORTS utility vehicle plunged down a cliff in Chiang Rai yesterday (Jan. 12) killing the driver and seriously injuring three of five Israeli tourists, Naewna newspaper said

The vehicle was going up a narrow dirt road to Ban Akha Pang Klang, a hilltribe village in Mae Kon subdistrict, Mueang district, when it drove over the side of the cliff.

In doing so it overturned several times and landed upside down in Mae Sat river leading to Mr, Wirawat (surname withheld), the driver and tour guide, being killed on the spot.

Of the five Israeli tourists two were slightly injured while three others, two men and one woman, were taken to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital by rescuers.

The SUV was the first of a convoy of five vehicles taking tourists from Chiang Mai to visit this village and just a kilometre away from the destination plunged down the 30-metre-deep cliff.

Police said the accident was probably caused by the driver not being skilled at going through the narrow dirt road covered with grass but it is being investigated in detail.

Rescuers had difficulty in getting the driver’s body out of the wreckage but finally succeeded in doing so.

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The SUV after it had plunged down the cliff. Photos: Naewna

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