Three dead as truck crashes into Thai train: Officials

At least three people were killed and up to 30 injured after a truck ploughed into the side of a Thai passenger train a few hours outside of Bangkok, authorities said Friday.

The truck, which was carrying cattle, breached a barrier and hit the train in Phetchaburi province, south of the capital on Friday morning.

"Five carriages were derailed... so far I have received reports that three people were killed and between 20 to 30 passengers have been hospitalised," Thanongsak Kongprasert, deputy governor of the State Railway of Thailand, told AFP.

The truck driver was among the dead as well as two train passengers including a Buddhist monk, he said, adding all train services to Thailand's south have been suspended due to the damaged track.

It was not immediately clear why the truck driver slammed into the train.

A local police commander confirmed the toll on Thai television.

Local media ran footage of rescue workers pulling dazed passengers from derailed carriages, while dead cows were strewn across the track.