PATTAYA, THAILAND – A rescue worker was thrown from his motorcycle by a low-hanging cable in Soi Nong Krabok, suffering a neck injury and renewing concern over the state of overhead wiring in the city.
Falling cable hits rider on duty trip
The 27-year-old Panya Khamluechai had been riding his motorcycle along Soi Nong Krabok on Tuesday morning on his way to a ceremony in Bo Win. As he drove, a loosely hanging internet cable stretched across the lane caught him at neck level.
The cable yanked him off the vehicle and he fell onto the road surface. Residents and colleagues who were nearby provided immediate first aid, and Panya received medical treatment for an injury to his neck.
Cable layout at crash site documented
According to eyewitnesses, the cable in question ran for about three meters at a low height across the roadway and was difficult to see in the early light. Additional lines were reported to be hanging unsecured from the poles for around ten meters.
Residents said the situation at the utility poles in this section had been known for some time. Complaints about fallen and sagging lines had reportedly been filed repeatedly with the authorities.
Injured rider files complaint against network operators
Panya announced that he intended to file a complaint against the responsible telecommunications providers. He considered the companies responsible for regularly inspecting their cable infrastructure and removing hazards.
On social media platforms, he called on other riders to exercise increased caution. Whether the police would open an investigation against the provider was still unclear at the time of reporting.
Chronic problem with cables over public roads
The chaotic tangle of cables over Thailand’s streets has been a subject of infrastructure debate for years. Pattaya and other urban areas had officially announced plans to move lines underground, but implementation has progressed only gradually and unevenly by region.
Traffic safety experts have warned that low-hanging lines at head and body height pose a real accident risk for motorcycle riders. Similar incidents were reported regularly in Thailand, without any comprehensive remedial measures being introduced so far.
Calls for binding maintenance obligations
Observers and local resident groups called for clear statutory maintenance obligations for telecommunications and power providers. They noted that there were still no uniform rules compelling operators to conduct regular safety inspections of their networks.
The accident involving Panya Khamluechai once again triggered discussion about the need for tighter regulation. An official response from the responsible authorities or the network operators concerned was not available by the time of publication.