Phuket, Thailand – A motorcycle crash in the Chalong underpass on Friday evening killed the 39-year-old rider and left his 34-year-old passenger seriously injured.
Crash and emergency response
The Chalong police station received a call via the 191 emergency line at about 21:10 reporting a serious collision in the underpass, and officers were dispatched to the scene. They found a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 with Phuket licence plates lying on its side inside the tunnel and declared the rider, identified as 39-year-old Anan Manma, dead at the scene. Police Colonel Rungrit Rattanaphakdee coordinated patrol officers and rescue teams, who secured the area and worked to restore traffic on the busy artery.
Victims and hospital procedures
The passenger, identified as 34-year-old Busaya Manma, was taken to Chalong Hospital with injuries; authorities did not initially disclose the precise nature of her wounds. Mr Anan’s body was later moved to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death and to exclude any underlying medical condition.
Investigation underway
Lieutenant Charuwit Khuncharoen of the Chalong police station was leading the inquiry and told reporters investigators would examine whether excessive speed, a technical defect or other factors contributed to the collision. Forensic checks of the motorcycle and witness interviews were among the immediate steps being carried out as inquiries continued.
Safety concerns at the Chalong underpass
The Chalong underpass links Chalong Circle with Rawai and Nai Harn and is a key route in southern Phuket, especially busy at night when tourists and locals travel between popular districts. Local authorities noted that tunnels and underpasses on the island regularly see serious motorcycle accidents, often connected to high speed or inappropriate riding behaviour.
Police appeal
Chalong police issued a general appeal for greater caution on such stretches of road and warned that conditions in tunnels required adapted speed and heightened attention. As investigators work to determine what went wrong in this case, the Manma family was left to mourn the loss of their relative while questions over the cause of the crash remain open.