Khao Yai park officials in search of elephant injured in road accident

Park rangers from Khao Yai National Park, in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, have been looking for an injured elephant, after it was hit by a pickup truck on a road in Moo See sub-district before dawn yesterday.

The 63-year-old driver, identified only as ‘Suriya’, was seriously injured in the accident and was rushed to the Bangkok Hospital in Pak Chong district.

Yossawat Thiensawat, chief of the Conservation Area 1 Office in Prachin Buri, said that the pickup truck rammed into the elephant as it was crossing the road in Village 10 of Moo See sub-district, near a water research station, at about 5.50am yesterday.

The truck was heavily damaged but the animal managed to limp into the bushes after the collision.

Yossawat said park officials began searching for the elephant immediately, but had been unable to find it by the time of this report. The search continues.

He also said that a team of veterinarians is on standby to treat the elephant once it is found and sedated.

Meanwhile, motorists using the route frequented by elephants have been advised to reduce their speed to no more than 60kph.