PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 55-year-old American motorcyclist was killed in a head-on collision on an overpass just outside Pattaya late Thursday night, according to local police.
Fatal collision on Pong Bridge
The crash occurred at about 22.00 on 29 January 2026 on the elevated Pong Bridge over Highway 36 in Pong subdistrict, Banglamung district, Chonburi province. Police said the man’s large motorcycle struck an oncoming car and he died at the scene from severe impact injuries.
Rescue teams find rider dead at scene
Rescue units from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya were dispatched immediately and arrived to find a crowd of onlookers on the overpass. On the roadway lay an overturned red-and-black Ducati “big bike,” unregistered and without a license plate, next to the lifeless rider, later publicly identified by police as Mr. Denne Palf Kary-Heinz, a 55-year-old U.S. citizen.
Efforts to revive victim unsuccessful
Rescue personnel reported that the man had sustained critical injuries in the collision, and medical staff confirmed his death at the scene; attempts at resuscitation were no longer possible. Nearby stood a bronze-colored MG car with Bangkok license plates, whose driver, Mr. Kittisak Raksa-chan, 53, remained at the location and cooperated with authorities.
Car driver recounts moment of impact
According to his statement to police, Kittisak was driving home in the direction of Nongprue when the collision occurred on the bridge.
“When I reached the bridge, a motorcycle suddenly came toward me in my lane from the opposite direction at high speed,”
said Kittisak Raksa-chan, car driver.
He told officers that the rider appeared to lose control, cross the lanes and crash head-on into his vehicle.
“After the impact I stopped immediately and went to look for the motorcyclist. He was unconscious and not moving,”
said Kittisak Raksa-chan, car driver.
Police examine scene and CCTV footage
Lieutenant Colonel Natthabodin Thong-in, deputy investigator at Nongprue Police Station, received the initial report of the head-on collision involving serious injuries. Officers extensively documented the crash site with photographs and examined the surroundings of the bridge, while investigators reviewed nearby CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events and assess the speed and movements of both vehicles.
No sign of additional vehicles involved
Police stated that further legal steps would follow standard procedures and that, at this stage, there was no indication of any parties involved other than the two vehicles already identified. Technical assessments of both the motorcycle and the car were to be commissioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
Unregistered Ducati under scrutiny
Investigators noted that the Ducati had neither valid registration nor official plates at the time of the crash, a factor that could affect the inquiry and potential insurance issues. Police were examining whether the motorcycle had been properly imported and what its exact legal status was, acknowledging that such cases are not unusual in Thailand, particularly with high-value imported bikes sometimes operated without complete documentation.
Pong Bridge seen as local accident hotspot
Residents have long regarded the Pong Bridge over Highway 36 as a critical trouble spot in the Pattaya area’s traffic network. The elevated structure encourages higher speeds over its relatively short span, and local drivers say night-time lighting is inadequate, reducing visibility and requiring extra caution, especially after dark; authorities have not yet released official statistics on accidents at this location.
Traffic safety concerns in Chonburi
The fatal crash renewed questions about road safety in the region, where local traffic agencies regularly stress the need for appropriate speed, particularly on bridges and winding sections. For motorcyclists, officials recommend protective gear, regular maintenance of bikes and a defensive riding style to reduce risks.
Checks on registration and prevention drives
The Thai traffic police in Chonburi conduct regular checks focusing on proper vehicle registration, insurance coverage and compliance with traffic laws. Safety campaigns target both local residents and foreign road users, underscoring shared responsibility for reducing serious and fatal crashes.
US Embassy notified as probe continues
Nongprue Police Station said it would continue its investigation in the coming days, combining CCTV analysis with expert technical reports on the vehicles. The US Embassy in Bangkok was informed of the death of its citizen and was coordinating with Thai authorities while the victim’s relatives were being assisted with the necessary formalities, and the detailed accident record was to form part of the official police report underpinning any legal consequences.