Pattaya, Thailand – Shortly before 7:00 on 20 October 2025, a Yamaha R7 motorcycle left the road on Jomtien Second Road, crossed a central reservation and struck a tree, killing the US rider and his Thai passenger.
Crash on Jomtien Second Road
The collision occurred on the sharp bend in front of the Lumpini Park Condo, a stretch local residents have long described as hazardous. Witnesses said traffic was light in the early morning when a loud impact broke the silence. The motorcycle, driven by a 40-year-old American identified by police as Larry, skidded off the carriageway, crossed the median and hit a tree with considerable force.
Emergency response and victims
Rescue teams arrived at the scene within minutes and found the rider unresponsive. A 31-year-old Thai woman named Ketsarin, who had been travelling with him, was also found critically injured and not breathing. Medical personnel attempted resuscitation at the roadside, but both victims were later pronounced dead. Their bodies were taken to Pattaya Patmakun Hospital for autopsies and toxicology tests.
The notorious curve
The bend has a grim reputation among neighbours, who refer to it as the ‘ghost curve’ because of the number of serious accidents reported there. One resident told police: ‘We heard a loud impact and saw the two people lying still on the road.’ A shopkeeper in the area said the combination of high speed and the sharp turn made the spot especially dangerous. A taxi driver who used the route regularly warned: ‘Anyone who goes too fast here risks their life.’ Police confirmed that multiple serious crashes had previously been recorded at the location.
Investigation and evidence
Officers from Pattaya City Police Station, led by Pol. Col. Anek Srathongyu, began securing the scene and collecting evidence. Investigators photographed skid marks and damage to the tree and road, and they were reviewing nearby surveillance cameras to reconstruct the final moments before the crash. The motorcycle will undergo a technical inspection to rule out mechanical failure. A police spokesperson said investigators would consider all factors and interview witnesses who saw the incident or arrived shortly afterward.
Local reaction and next steps
The deaths sparked calls from locals for improved safety measures on the road, including clearer signage and greater enforcement of speed limits. ‘Something must be done so these accidents do not become routine,’ a nearby shop owner said. Authorities said they would review accident statistics for the curve and consider measures to enhance traffic safety once the full investigation and forensic results were available.
The inquiry will also examine road conditions at the time of the crash, any possible external influences and the results of the technical and toxicological tests before a final assessment is released.