This is the heart-stopping moment an out-of-control pickup truck crashed, narrowly missing shocked diners who were sitting outside.

CCTV footage shows the speeding vehicle suddenly veering off course towards a restaurant in Yasothon, northeast Thailand, on May 18.

The vehicle swerved to the roadside, ploughing into parked cars and motorbikes before slamming into the wall of a petrol station.

Diners enjoying a meal on the pavement were seen leaping up in panic as the truck hurtled past, missing them by mere inches.

Police said only the driver, aged around 40, was injured in the crash.

At least two motorcycles and two cars were damaged in the carnage. Debris, rubbish, and shattered headlights were strewn across the road in the aftermath.

The shaken restaurant owner said: 'At that time, several men and women were sitting and drinking in front of the store.

'Suddenly, a pickup truck crashed nearby after careening onto the sidewalk. I checked the CCTV and found it was actually such a close call. I'm relieved none of my customers were hurt.'

Authorities said they were investigating the cause of the accident.

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.