Nighttime crash in pouring rain
At around 4:40 a.m. on 19 September 2025, an Isuzu pickup veered off the bypass road between Phrae and Nan, tumbling into a ditch roughly 100 metres past the Rong Fong traffic light. Heavy rain had turned the roadway into a slippery hazard.
Two 24-year-old men, returning from a nightclub in Phrae, occupied the cab. Both sustained minor injuries and were rescued from the wreckage. But the most shocking discovery came moments later: a lifeless man was found in the truck bed, with no identification.
Police confront baffling mystery
Phrae City Police and Phrae Rescue teams found only a mobile phone and a keychain on the deceased – no wallet, no ID. Even stranger, the survivors claimed they had no knowledge of the man.
“We cannot explain how he ended up in the pickup,” the injured men told police. Whether he was already dead before the crash remains unknown. A forensic team from Phrae Hospital transported the body for further examination.
Ongoing investigations and safety warnings
The two survivors face charges of negligent driving. Further legal action depends on the autopsy results. “We must determine if death occurred during the accident or beforehand,” a police spokesperson said.
Forensic investigators are analysing the man’s phone and clothing, while CCTV footage along the route is being reviewed. Authorities are appealing to the public: “Someone must be missing this man.”
The accident also highlights the dangers of nighttime driving after club visits. Wet, winding roads in Thailand can become deadly in heavy rain. Police cautioned, “Alcohol and rain are a deadly combination,” and are investigating all possibilities, including whether alcohol played a role.