PATTAYA, Thailand – A 19-year-old university freshman was killed early New Year’s Day after his motorcycle was struck from behind by a car on a curved road in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district, police said.
The crash occurred around 5:00 a.m. Jan 1 on Phlasin Road, a narrow two-lane street running alongside Bang Bua canal near a local temple. Police said a black Toyota Vios lost control after hitting the motorcycle, sending both vehicles into a nearby pond.
The motorcyclist, identified as a first-year student at a private university in the Bang Bua area, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two women travelling in the car were injured and taken to Paolo Kaset Hospital for treatment.
Witnesses told police the car was travelling at high speed when it entered a curve and slammed into the rear of the motorcycle before leaving the roadway.
The driver told investigators she had been returning from a New Year celebration and was using a navigation app to find her way home along a route she was unfamiliar with. She said she did not see the motorcycle before impact.
Police said alcohol testing was conducted as part of the investigation and legal proceedings will follow in accordance with the results. The victim’s body was sent for forensic examination before being released to relatives for funeral arrangements.
Authorities used the incident to warn drivers nationwide — including in major tourist destinations such as Pattaya — to slow down, especially when travelling on unfamiliar roads, narrow streets, or routes suggested by navigation apps during holiday periods.
Police said New Year celebrations often lead to increased fatigue, reduced attention, and overconfidence behind the wheel, factors that contribute to a spike in serious crashes involving motorcycles.
