PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 23-year-old motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries after colliding with a pickup truck that allegedly made an illegal U-turn on Pattaya’s Third Road early Saturday morning.
Severe overnight collision
At 00:30 on Saturday, officers from the Pattaya City Police, volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation, and medics from the Pattaya City Hospital received an emergency call from Third Road, Pattaya following reports of a violent crash. The team found a green and black Honda CBR650 completely destroyed beside the street, and Wisanupong Srichumphuang, aged 23, unconscious and surrounded by blood. Paramedics provided stabilising treatment at the scene before transferring him in critical condition to the Pattaya City Hospital for further care.
Pickup driver questioned
Several meters away, officers located a white Mitsubishi pickup truck, heavily damaged on its left side. Its driver, Warin Angkuntrirat, aged 50, sustained minor injuries and remained at the site to give his account to investigators. A witness, Natthanan, aged 33, who was riding directly behind the victim, gave a description of the moment of impact:
“We were crossing on green when the pickup suddenly made a U-turn across the barrier. The other rider couldn’t brake in time.”
– said Natthanan, eyewitness
Police investigation underway
Police investigators indicated that preliminary evidence pointed to an illegal U-turn as the cause of the crash. Warin Angkuntrirat told officers he had looked for oncoming traffic before turning and had seen none, then attempted to enter a side road when the motorcycle approached at high speed and struck the vehicle head-on. Officers photographed the entire accident scene, seized both vehicles as exhibits, and transported Mr. Warin to the Pattaya City Police Station for questioning on potential charges of reckless driving and prohibited turning.
Ongoing review and safety warning
As of publication, the Pattaya City Police continued to collect CCTV footage and additional testimonies to reconstruct the incident. Authorities issued reminders about the specific hazards of late-night traffic in Pattaya, listing:
• Reduced nighttime visibility
• Unexpected manoeuvres by other vehicles
• Limited traffic enforcement during off-peak hours
Hospital staff confirmed that Wisanupong Srichumphuang’s condition remained critical at Pattaya City Hospital. Officials said the case underscored persistent road safety concerns on Pattaya’s heavily used routes and renewed calls for stricter nighttime patrols and monitoring along Third Road.