PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 46-year-old pickup driver was killed in a head-on collision on Motorway Route 7 near Pattaya after being thrown from his vehicle and run over by a van.
Deadly crash on Route 7 frontage road
The collision occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on the frontage road of Motorway Route 7 near the Sirin House Village residential area in Nong Prue district. The busy route links the Bangkok metropolitan area with Thailand’s eastern seaboard and was heavily trafficked at the time.
According to police, a bronze and silver Toyota Mighty X pickup used for scrap metal trading collided head-on with a white Toyota Alphard van. The front sections of both vehicles were destroyed, and debris was scattered across the roadway.
Pickup driver ejected and fatally injured
The pickup driver was identified as Phanomphon Murichan, 46, whose body was found partially under the Alphard van. Rescue workers confirmed that he had already died at the scene.
Initial findings indicated that he was thrown from his vehicle on impact and then run over by the van. He suffered severe injuries to his head and abdomen.
Van driver in shock, passenger describes impact
The Alphard was driven by Yu Bo, a 65-year-old Chinese national, who was not visibly injured but appeared to be in shock and waited at the scene for emergency services. A female passenger in the van, identified under the pseudonym Ms. Mai, 45, described the moments before the crash.
“We were on our way home to the Nong Pla Lai area. When we reached the intersection and turned left, a pickup came toward us at high speed from the opposite direction and crashed into us. The impact was deafening.”
said Ms. Mai, van passenger.
She added further details about the immediate aftermath of the collision.
“Mr. Yu said he only saw the pickup when it was already too late. When we got out, we saw that the other driver had been thrown from his vehicle and was lying under our van. We immediately called emergency services.”
said Ms. Mai, van passenger.
Police examine scene and CCTV footage
Police Lieutenant Jeerasak Aebphaeng, the duty investigator at Nongprue Police Station, led the on-site investigation. Officers collected evidence, documented the positions of the vehicles and interviewed witnesses.
Afterwards, Yu Bo was taken to the police station for further questioning to clarify the sequence of events and any potential traffic violations. Authorities said they would review available CCTV footage from the surrounding area.
Officials stated that any possible charges would be considered only after the investigation and evaluation of all evidence had been completed.
Authorities reiterate safety warnings
Police again highlighted the increased risks at intersections and turning lanes, especially on busy expressways such as Route 7. They urged drivers to maintain appropriate speed before junctions and exits and to exercise particular caution when turning left or changing to frontage roads.
Officers also stressed the consistent use of seat belts to prevent occupants from being ejected in serious collisions.