Police in Thailand said a tired motorist who had driven friends home from Songkran celebrations dozed off at the wheel and crashed into a parked truck in Suphan Buri, killing two young children in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police were alerted to the accident on the Bang Li-Nong Wan Priang road in Tambon None Phra Prang, Song Phi Nong district at 12.15am.

Police said the car driven by Nitikorn Doktalyong, 22, hit the rear of a 10-wheel truck parked on the roadside.

The truck was not obstructing the left lane so police believe the driver fell asleep behind the wheel, causing his car to stray on to the hard shoulder.

Nitikorn’s five-year-old nephew died at the scene while his one-year-old niece died after being rushed to the district hospital.

Nitikorn was injured along with two relatives, identified as Rinda Udom, 21, and Worasuda Chantharang, 15.

Pol Maj Phawit Preenakhon, inspector of the Song Phi Nong police station, said Nitikorn and relatives were returning home in the district after driving their friends to Kanchanaburi following Songkran celebrations in Suphan Buri.