The windscreen of Pranee Rungsuksai’s car laid in shards across her dashboard, a gaping hole revealing the horrifying consequence of an encounter with a rogue steel plate. Under the dimming light of sunset, the Burapha Withi expressway, much like any other Sunday evening, was bustling with commuters heading towards the heart of Bangkok. However, for Pranee, the journey took a terrifying turn at the 19th kilometre marker.
As the rush hour traffic pressed on, Pranee made her way through the elevated expressway in tambon Bang Chalong of Bangphli district. It was around 6pm when calamity struck. The ordinary humdrum of her drive was replaced by a sharp, unexpected impact—a big steely projectile had crashed through her windscreen. It targeted her with an uncanny precision, leaving deep wounds on her neck and cheek.
Rescue workers and local police quickly responded to the scene. They discovered the visibly distressed Pranee parked on Thepharat Road (Bang Na-Trat), beneath the elevated expressway. Blood seeped from the cuts on her right cheek and neck, wounds that were tended to promptly before she was rushed to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
The remnants of the incident told a chilling story. A white Toyota car with a gaping vertical hole in the driver’s side of the windscreen, the deadly intruder—a steel plate measuring approximately 13 centimetres in width and length and 2.5cm in thickness—lay ominously inside. This substantial piece of metal had hurled itself with enough force to penetrate her vehicle and wound her gravely.
Pranee recalled she had been driving to pick up her daughter in the city. She had entered the expressway via the Bang Bo toll plaza and found herself cruising in the middle lane. Two pickup trucks flanked her, one at the front and the other to her right. Out of nowhere, the steel plate emerged as an uninvited guest, impacting her windscreen with a violent jolt and inflicting injuries before she could even comprehend what had occurred.
Despite the pain and panic coursing through her, Pranee managed to maintain her composure. She guided her vehicle off the expressway, found a safe spot to make a U-turn, and then parked, waiting desperately for assistance. In recounting the ordeal, she expressed a bewildered sort of gratitude—although she was injured, she couldn’t help but feel fortunate that the plate hadn’t struck the center of her face, which could have resulted in far more catastrophic consequences.
On any given day, small stones might dent or chip a vehicle’s exterior, but this particular Sunday presented a starkly different form of road hazard. The incident underlines not just the unpredictable nature of navigating busy highways but also the sheer resilience displayed by Pranee in the face of such sudden danger.
As we navigate our daily commutes, it’s tales like Pranee’s that remind us of the unexpected encounters possible on roads. While we hope that such incidents remain rare, Pranee’s story is a testament to staying vigilant and composed, even when faced with the most shocking of surprises.
It’s amazing that she survived! How does a steel plate even get loose like that?
My thoughts exactly. There must be some serious negligence either in road maintenance or from the vehicles transporting these materials.
I wonder if the authorities will actually look into this, or if it’ll just get swept under the rug like so many other incidents.
This is exactly why we need more stringent checks on trucks carrying cargo. Lives are literally at stake.
How terrifying! I can’t even imagine what I would do in that situation.
I know, right? I would probably freeze and have an accident. Kudos to her for keeping her cool.
Absolutely. She really did handle it better than most could.
I think it’s important to recognize how many people fail to keep their calm in such moments. Pranee’s reaction is a model of what we should aim for.
This is why I avoid highways. The risk is just too high.
Every road has risks. Highways are generally considered safer than city streets.
That’s a bit extreme. You can’t let fear dictate your life. Just drive carefully and be aware.
I’m so grateful for the quick response of the rescue workers. They truly are heroes!
Yes, but why does no one ever ask why they were needed in the first place? Prevention is better than cure.
Fair point, James. We definitely need stricter regulations and better enforcement.
I really hope she makes a full recovery. This is a scary reminder of how fragile life can be.
This reminds me of a similar accident I heard about last year. There’s definitely a pattern.
Pattern or not, every single one of these incidents is preventable. That’s what’s frustrating.
Can you imagine the trauma this poor woman is going to deal with? Psychological scars are real.
We need better infrastructure. Too many times have I seen things like this happening.
Totally agree. It’s about time we invested in safer roads and better equipment for our vehicles.
Perhaps it’s time we looked at technological solutions for preventing such incidents. AI-based systems could predict and alert drivers to such hazards.
Interesting idea, but who will fund such projects? The government or private companies?
Ideally both. Public-private partnerships could drive innovation in this area.
Every driver should have a dashcam. It could provide critical evidence in incidents like this.
Dashcams are great, but they wouldn’t prevent the accident. Prevention should be our main focus.
True, but they can help in apportioning blame and avoiding hit-and-runs.
What if it had been a motorcycle? The rider wouldn’t have stood a chance.
That’s horrifying to think about. Riders are always at a higher risk.
This is just another example of how commuting to work can be hazardous. We should all be more mindful.
At the end of the day, accidents happen. All we can do is learn from them and improve.
I feel so bad for her daughter, waiting to be picked up and then finding out something so scary happened to her mom.
I can’t even imagine the worry. I’m so glad her mom was able to get help quickly.
In some countries, such incidents would have led to a major investigation. Thailand needs to step up its game.
Can we talk about how lucky she was that it didn’t hit her directly in the face? That would’ve been fatal for sure.
It’s stories like these that remind me to always be vigilant on the road. You never know what could happen.
Exactly! Defensive driving is a must. Always assume that something crazy could happen.