Two people were killed and nine injured after their minibus hit and injured a wild elephant on Sunday, October 10.

The silver Toyota was carrying the group to a temple when the the driver collided with the five-tonne adult elephant in thick fog. Local media reports that the incident happened at around 5 am in the south-central province of Chachoengsao, a region located off capital Bangkok..

Police said the jumbo smashed into the windscreen and crushed the front of the van, trapping the driver and a female passenger in the front.

The beast was knocked to the ground then struggled to its feet before limping away into the forest. Officials are now searching for it.

Dacha Ninwichian, head of the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, said he has sent a team of conservationists to join the search of the area.

''Witnesses reported that the elephant left the area after the accident. A toe nail belonging to the elephant was found on the road and there was also blood from the elephant," he said.

Nine of the other passengers, eight of which were women, were also seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

Two people were killed and nine injured after their minibus hit and injured a wild elephant which vets are now desperately trying to find.

The silver Toyota was carrying the group to a temple when the the driver collided with the five-tonne adult elephant in thick fog on Sunday (28/10) morning at 5am.

Police said the jumbo smashed into the windscreen and crushed the front of the van trapping the driver and a female passenger in the front.

The beast was knocked to the ground then struggled to its feet and limped away into the forest leaving a trail of blood on the ground in Chachoengsao, Thailand.

Forestry officials are now searching for the injured pachyderm amid fears it needs urgent medical attention.

Dacha Ninwichian, head of the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, said he has sent a team of conservationists to join the search of the area.

He said: ''We found that the elephant had collided with the van and the treatment of the elephant is now urgent.

''Witnesses reported that the elephant left the area after the accident. A toe nail belonging to the elephant was found on the road and there was also blood from the elephant.

''Vets have seen one elephant in the forest that was struggling to walk. It was in a herd of five other elephants. We continue to track it to provide care.''

Police said the van driver, Somchai Sapsamruay, 54, and female passenger Yada Saennamwong, 47, were killed after teir bodies were trapped in the wreckage.

Nine of the other passengers, eight of which were women, were also seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.