PHANG NGA, THAILAND – A 63-year-old German woman died and her 63-year-old husband was critically injured after their motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck on Petchkasem Road, police said.
Crash on a busy southern route
The collision occurred on October 18 at about 17:20 near a U-turn before the Khuekkhak health station in Takua Pa district. The couple, identified as Petra and Martin, were on a leisurely motorcycle ride when the accident turned deadly within seconds.
Police launch investigation
Police Lieutenant Rungrot Jitarak, deputy investigator at the Khao Lak police station, said authorities were collecting evidence to clarify the exact sequence of events. “We are gathering all available evidence and witness statements to determine how the crash happened,” he told reporters on October 19.
Driver and vehicle details
Investigators said a 56-year-old Thai man named Somkid was driving a white Isuzu pickup registered in Phang Nga province on the right-hand lane. Police estimated the vehicle was travelling at more than 100 km/h. An alcohol test on the driver was negative.
Crucially, police said the pickup’s dashcam recorded the moment of impact when Martin attempted to move his motorcycle to the right. Authorities are reviewing the footage as part of the inquiry into possible speed or manoeuvring errors.
Victims and emergency response
The force of the collision threw Petra from the motorcycle. Emergency responders provided immediate aid at the scene, but she succumbed to her injuries. Her husband Martin survived the crash but was taken to hospital with serious injuries and remained in critical condition.
Lieutenant Rungrot said the victim’s condition and the dramatic nature of the collision had left the family facing both medical and emotional trauma: the surviving husband now faces recovery from severe injuries while coping with the loss of his partner.
Consular assistance
Thai police notified the German embassy to ensure consular support for the injured man and the deceased woman’s family.
The inquiry is ongoing as investigators piece together dashcam evidence, witness accounts and physical traces from the scene to establish the full circumstances of the crash.