Two Indian tourists were killed and five others, including a Thai, were seriously injured when the van in which they were travelling slammed into a ten-wheel truck and fell into a roadside ditch on the Phet Kasem highway, in the southern province of Chumphon early Saturday morning.

The van left Hat Yai for Bangkok with about ten passengers on board, including six Indian nationals.  The accident happened at about 1am, at a U-turn in Ban Na Hoy Khong, Tha Sae district.

The van crashed into the rear of the truck, which was trying to U-turn, skidded into the ditch and overturned. The two fatalities were found crushed to their death in their seats and five others, including four other Indian nationals, sustained serious injuries.

All those killed and injured were rushed to Tha Sae district and Chumphon Khet Udomsak hospitals.

The truck driver, 32-year-old Kraisorn Klinsawang, got out of his truck after the accident and waited for the police to arrive.