PATTAYA, THAILAND – A serious early-morning road accident left a foreign holidaymaker in critical condition after a collision between a car and an electric tricycle outside a high-rise complex.
Collision around 2:20 a.m. outside Supalai complex
The crash occurred at about 2:20 a.m. on the road in front of the Supalai residential high-rise complex in Pattaya. A conventional passenger car and an electric tricycle collided with considerable force. The tricycle was destroyed on impact, and debris was scattered across the roadway.
Bystanders who noticed the accident immediately called emergency services. Paramedics arrived shortly afterwards and began initial treatment of the injured driver at the scene.
Resuscitation started at the scene
The first paramedics to arrive found the victim unconscious and without a pulse. They began resuscitation measures without delay. An emergency team from Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital was called in to support the first responders on site.
After the man was stabilised, he was transported by ambulance to Pattaya Municipal Hospital. According to the responders’ report, his condition was considered critically life-threatening.
Identity of the injured man still unclear
Police had not yet been able to conclusively establish the victim’s identity. No identification documents were found at the crash site. Investigators were working with the hospital and potential witnesses in an attempt to identify the man.
The driver of the involved car also remained under investigation. Authorities did not release any details about that driver’s identity, nor did they say whether an arrest had been made.
Police reviewing surveillance cameras
Officers secured the accident scene and collected evidence from the road surface. Recordings from nearby surveillance cameras were being reviewed to reconstruct the exact course of events.
Investigators did not rule out excessive speed or technical failure as possible causes of the crash. Initial findings were expected to be released after the camera footage had been fully evaluated.
E-tricycles in the spotlight of road safety debate
Electric tricycles are widely used in Pattaya and other tourist cities. Road safety experts have long pointed out that these vehicles offer minimal protection for drivers and passengers in collisions with cars because of their low weight.
Provincial authorities in Chonburi had repeatedly announced plans for stricter registration and safety rules for small electric vehicles. However, binding regulations had not yet come into force.