Tragic Discovery at Highway 36 Service Station
Police and rescue teams were called to a petrol station on Highway 36 between Pattaya and Rayong at 22:30 on 20 September 2025, and found a chilling scene. A locked SUV stood by the restrooms with its engine still running; inside, 41-year-old Kamthorn Phatthawattanakul from Rayong was already dead. Staff later told investigators the vehicle had arrived hours earlier and the driver had not left.
Employees say the SUV pulled in around 16:30. It was only during a shift change — some five hours later — that workers realised the engine was still on and the driver sat motionless in an unusual position. They alerted the station owner and police immediately.
Final Call and a Family Left Searching
Surveillance footage placed the SUV arriving precisely at 16:28, with the driver never leaving the vehicle. Investigators learned the deceased had made a disturbing phone call to relatives shortly before: “I will die now,” he said, without giving his location. By the time family members realised where he might be, it was too late.
The sequence of events — an early afternoon arrival, a sealed car with the engine running, and a plaintive last message to relatives — has left the victim’s family and the local community reeling from shock and sorrow.
Evidence Points to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Police forensic teams found clear signs in the vehicle’s interior consistent with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and authorities are treating that as the probable cause of death while investigations continue. Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas produced by incomplete combustion of fuel; in a closed vehicle with the engine running it can accumulate quickly and become lethal.
Experts warn that victims often lose consciousness without strong warning signs, which helps explain how five hours could pass before staff discovered the body. Even open windows cannot guarantee safety when an engine idles in a confined space for prolonged periods.
Why Carbon Monoxide Is So Dangerous — And What To Do
Carbon monoxide blocks oxygen transport in the blood; even low concentrations can cause dizziness, confusion and unconsciousness, and higher levels are fatal. In cars, portable generators or idling engines in enclosed spaces are frequent causes of accidental CO poisoning. The message from safety advisors is blunt: never run a vehicle engine in a closed space and seek fresh air immediately if you feel unwell.
Authorities continue forensic tests while the family awaits final confirmation. The investigation will aim to clarify whether this was a suicide, an accidental poisoning or a tragic combination of circumstances. Meanwhile the community mourns a life lost in baffling and painful circumstances.
Help for People in Crisis
If you or someone you know is in a suicidal crisis, please reach out for immediate help: Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline (English): 02 713 6791; Thai health hotline (Thai): 1323. Talk to friends, family or medical professionals — there is support and there are alternatives. Kamthorn’s tragic death is a reminder to check on loved ones and to act fast if someone expresses despair.