PATTAYA, THAILAND — At 4:00 a.m. on 4 November 2025, Mr. Suphanan Oncham, a 64-year-old driver, collided with a high-voltage pole behind the Highway Police Station on Route 7, causing a widespread power outage and leading to his admission of drunk driving.
Early Morning Collision Near Route 7
According to Lieutenant Somchai Rattanawong from the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Center, the emergency hotline received a call about a seven-seat Ford Everest SUV that had gone off the road at 4:03 a.m. The responding crew discovered the vehicle’s front completely destroyed and a fallen power pole lying across its hood. Rescue officers reported sparks from the damaged high-voltage lines, prompting a safety cordon of 20 meters until the power was cut.
Paramedic Natcha Boonmee stated that Mr. Oncham, found with chest pain and minor bruises, was treated on-site before being transferred to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya at 4:45 a.m. “HE CONFESSED THAT HE HAD BEEN DRINKING AND FELT DIZZY JUST BEFORE LOSING CONTROL,” she said.
Admission Under Alcohol Influence
While receiving medical care, Mr. Oncham told medics that he had been returning home after “a night out” and suddenly lost consciousness. “I ADMIT I WAS DRUNK, BUT I REMEMBER NOTHING AFTER THAT,” he reportedly told rescue staff, according to their field log filed at 5:30 a.m.
Captain Prasert Thanawan of the Pattaya Police Station confirmed that officers secured the SUV at kilometre marker 115 on Route 7 and took a blood sample for alcohol testing. He said investigators would decide within 48 hours whether to pursue charges for driving under the influence.
Power Failure and Fast Response
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) reported that the toppled pole caused an outage affecting more than 60 households in the nearby residential zone. PEA Pattaya Chief Engineer, Preecha Ketmanee, said teams arrived on site at 5:10 a.m. and worked nearly four hours to rebuild the damaged line. “BY 8:45 A.M., ALL CONNECTIONS WERE RESTORED AND VOLTAGE STABILIZED,” he confirmed.
Rescue workers used cutting tools to remove the broken mast from the SUV’s wreckage before replacements could be installed. The PEA later issued a technical inspection report to police documenting one destroyed utility pole and three damaged cables.
Ongoing Police Investigation
On 5 November 2025, Major Suriya Kongsak, head of the Traffic Investigation Division, ordered further scene analysis with accident reconstruction data and breath test results. Officials also recorded the vehicle’s average speed of 78 km/h before impact, according to onboard diagnostics reviewed by police technicians.
Major Suriya emphasized the broader safety concern, saying “DRUNK DRIVING CONTINUES TO THREATEN LIVES AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN CHONBURI PROVINCE.” He added that similar offences had risen by 12 percent in Pattaya over the last 12 months, despite repeated road safety campaigns.
Broader Public Safety Concerns
Local authorities cited this collision as another reminder of alcohol-related risk on Thailand’s roads. Pattaya, a coastal city with over 100,000 residents and millions of annual visitors, has seen multiple weekend checkpoints introduced this year to curb late-night driving incidents.
Key safety notes from the incident included:
– Alcohol at the wheel remains a high-risk factor in Pattaya’s traffic accidents.
– Damage to public infrastructure can cause long electricity outages and high repair costs.
– Rapid coordination between rescue, police, and electricity teams minimized public disruption.
Police in Pattaya confirmed their report will be submitted to the Chonburi Provincial Court once forensic results are verified, concluding Mr. Oncham’s case file within two weeks.