This is the shocking moment a freight train slammed into a pickup truck on a level crossing, with those inside miraculously escaping alive.

CCTV footage shows the locomotive smashing into the vehicle as it ignored a lowered barrier in Chonburi on April 24.

The truck was dragged 50 metres (165 feet) along the tracks, injuring the driver Prasert Sanguanchom, 69, and a passenger.

Police Captain Khomsan Kamtunkaew, superintendent of the Sattahip District Police Station, said: 'Police have reviewed the security camera footage and found that the driver moved past the lowered barrier but was struck by the train before it could fully cross.

‘We are still investigating further. We will summon the truck driver once he has recovered from his injuries. He and the train operator will be questioned for further legal action.'

Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in Asia, Thailand suffers from chronic underinvestment in its highways and education, contributing to its poor road safety levels. Only a handful of African countries are worse.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.