A thrilling turn of events unfolded at the picturesque Rajjaprabha Dam in the southern province of Surat Thani, Thailand, as a white tourist van took an unexpected dive into the crystal-clear waters of the reservoir on a serene Sunday morning. Caught on a dramatic screenshot, the van’s perilous plunge immediately became the talk of the town.
The incident, which took place around 10am, jolted the tranquil atmosphere at a busy pier nestled in the scenic tambon Khao Phang of Ban Takhun district. Here, tourism personnel were enthusiastically welcoming visitors looking forward to exploring the tranquil beauty of the reservoir by boat.
Out of nowhere, a seemingly possessed white Toyota van accelerated towards the edge of the high concrete pier. In an instant, it hurtled off the pier, nosediving into the azure reservoir waters below. The van’s front end hit the bottom near the bank with a resounding crash, while its rear struck a sturdy steel pontoon making an alarming clang before the entire vehicle succumbed to the depths of the reservoir.
The sight left onlookers—including various tourists, local workers, and villagers—utterly stunned. But with admirable swiftness, the local heroes sprang into action, rescuing the dazed van driver from the sinking vehicle. Though the driver sustained a broken left wrist and a nasty cut on his chin, the good news was he remained conscious and resilient, ensuring his swift transport to Bantakhun Hospital for further treatment.
Interestingly, the driver wasn’t on a solo venture. The van had been bustling with about ten tourists not long before the incident. Thankfully, fate played a kind hand as the visitors disembarked at the pier moments before the van’s unexpected plunge, escaping any potential harm and simply left with a surreal story to share.
This incident, while harrowing, did nothing to dampen the spirits of the tourists who continued with their boat trips, now armed with a thrilling anecdote of their time at Rajjaprabha Dam.
This is insane! How does a van just drive off a pier like that?
Maybe the driver had some sort of medical emergency or mechanical failure. It’s a miracle everyone is okay.
Or maybe he just lost control of the vehicle? This kind of stuff happens more than you think.
True, but isn’t there supposed to be safety measures at such tourist spots? Barriers or something?
Exactly, safety protocols seem really lax here. Something needs to be done to prevent this in the future.
What a crazy story! Glad everyone is safe and the tourists had already disembarked.
It could have turned out so much worse if those tourists were still in the van. Very lucky.
Right? They could have been seriously injured or worse! A real close call.
I hope the authorities are taking environmental precautions. We don’t need pollution in such a pristine area.
Good point. Vehicles in the water can leak oil and other fluids, harming wildlife.
Exactly. Accidents like these can have long-term ecological consequences if not managed properly.
This must have been terrifying to witness. Kudos to the onlookers who jumped in to help!
Human spirits can really shine in crisis moments. They definitely deserve a medal for their quick action.
Absolutely! They saved that driver’s life. Heroes!
The history of Rajjaprabha Dam is fascinating in itself, now it has this dramatic incident to add to its story.
Such a bizarre twist to what was supposed to be a peaceful day of tourism.
Can you imagine the story these people now have to tell their friends and family?
I guess an adrenaline rush wasn’t part of their tour package!
I wonder what was going through the driver’s mind. Must have been pure panic.
He’ll probably have a lot to explain once he recovers. Hope he’s doing okay.
For sure. It’s a miracle he only had a broken wrist and a cut. Get well soon, driver!
Vehicles really should have better maintenance checks before being used for tours. Just saying.
Agreed, safety standards need to be higher, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
Exactly. There’s no excuse for endangering lives like this.
Is there a follow-up on whether the van was salvaged? What a logistical nightmare that must be.
I was thinking the same! Retrieving a sunken van can’t be easy, and it might still pose hazards.
Right? It’s not like you can just pull it out with a rope. Specialized equipment would be needed.
I was actually at the pier that morning! It was like something out of an action movie.
Wow, that must have been intense. So glad you’re okay!
Thanks! Definitely an unforgettable experience, though not in the way I expected.
What’s really impressive is how the tourists continued with their day. Shows resilience.
I just can’t get over how quickly the rescue happened. Real heroes in the crowd!
Indeed. In emergencies, those first few seconds count the most.
The driver needs to be more careful. What was he thinking?
We don’t know the full story yet. Could’ve been something beyond his control.
This felt like a scene straight out of a movie. Glad no tourists were hurt!
Seriously, could be a blockbuster script. Shockingly real!