PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 41-year-old BMW driver lost control at a highway exit and slammed into an electronic billboard, prompting a police investigation into speed and distraction.
Crash at highway exit in Nong Prue
The collision occurred on 1 April 2026 at about 12:20 a.m. at the crossroads of the highway exit in the Nong Prue subdistrict. It was a single-vehicle accident with no other cars directly involved.
Officers from Pattaya City Police were alerted and coordinated the response with rescuers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya. Emergency teams were dispatched immediately to the scene.
BMW hits median strip and electronic billboard
At the site, responders found a black BMW sedan with Bangkok licence plates that had come to rest on the central median. The vehicle had crashed heavily into a large, relatively new electronic advertising billboard at the exit area.
The front of the car was badly damaged, with parts of the vehicle lodged under the billboard structure. Debris from the crash was scattered around the scene.
Driver lightly injured and treated at the scene
Police identified the driver as Surawut Iam-arunthai (41). According to rescue personnel, he sustained only minor injuries.
Emergency staff provided first aid directly at the crash site. No further details about his condition were initially released.
Unexpected removal before investigators arrived
While rescuers were still assisting, a friend of the injured man arrived in another vehicle. He took the driver away, saying he would bring him to hospital himself.
This happened before investigating officers reached the accident scene. Rescue workers and bystanders were reportedly surprised and irritated by the sudden departure.
Witness: High speed and narrow escape at the lights
A 19‑year‑old food delivery rider, Patthamon Phanthon, witnessed the crash while waiting at a red light at the intersection.
“The black sedan came off the highway at high speed, lost control and crashed into the median strip and the billboard.”
said Patthamon, a food delivery worker.
She noted that the traffic light on the opposite side had been about to turn green.
“With a slightly different speed or timing, the car could have ploughed into vehicles waiting at the light.”
said Patthamon.
Police review CCTV to clarify cause
Police in Pattaya said they would now review nearby CCTV footage and collect further evidence. The aim was to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Potential factors under consideration included excessive speed and possible distraction. There were initially no additional details on potential charges or further investigative steps.