Pattaya, THAILAND – A Thai motorcyclist was seriously injured after his motorcycle collided with a pickup on Highway 331 on Tuesday evening, emergency responders and police said.
Accident scene and injuries
The crash occurred at about 17:10 on 21 October 2025 at the turning area in front of the Ban Kho Hao Mosque, according to eyewitnesses and rescuers. Personnel from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center found a black Honda Wave 110 motorbike without a licence plate badly damaged on the road.
The rider, 34-year-old Sarawut Joysodong, suffered a deep head wound, extensive abrasions to his arms and legs and a severe cut to his left leg. Paramedics provided first aid at the scene and took him to Pattaya Hospital for further treatment.
Driver account
A black four-door Ford pickup with Bangkok plates was recovered beside the motorcycle with significant front-end damage. The pickup driver, identified as Chinese national Qianglong He, was uninjured.
Through an interpreter he told police: “I was driving from Bowin toward Rayong when the motorcycle suddenly cut in front of me. I had no time to brake.” His statement suggested the motorbike may have made a risky manoeuvre, but authorities said the exact sequence of events remained unclear.
Police investigation
Officers from Huai Yai Police Station secured the scene, documented evidence and impounded both vehicles pending further examination. Police said they would wait until the injured rider’s condition stabilised before taking his statement.
Only after both parties have been interviewed and forensics are complete will investigators determine whether either driver was at fault. Possible violations such as speeding or dangerous lane changes are being examined as part of the probe.
Dangerous stretch of road
Highway 331 is known locally as a hazardous route, particularly near turning bays and U-turn spots where sudden lane changes and unexpected manoeuvres often lead to collisions. Local reports said accidents involving foreign drivers around Pattaya were a recurring problem, prompting renewed debate over road safety and enforcement.
The collision again raised questions about whether authorities should intensify checks on busy highways or whether improvements in driver behaviour and awareness are the primary solution. Police said their inquiry would seek to establish the full facts before any charges or recommendations were made.