PATTAYA, Thailand – Motorists traveling toward Pattaya faced major disruption on June 12 after hundreds of nails were reportedly found scattered across Motorway 7, causing widespread tire damage and leaving scores of vehicles stranded. The incident occurred near Kilometer 40 on the Bangkok–Ban Chang route, one of Thailand’s busiest routes linking Bangkok with Chonburi, Pattaya, and the Eastern Seaboard.
According to reports shared by the Facebook page Accidents and News Nong Mai Daeng Chonburi, nails were strewn across multiple lanes of the roadway in the Pattaya-bound direction, creating a hazardous situation for drivers. Photos and videos circulating online showed numerous vehicles parked along the shoulder with flat tires while motorists waited for assistance or attempted emergency tire changes. Several drivers reportedly stopped to help remove the hazard, gathering large numbers of screw-type nails scattered across the roadway. The debris was believed to be responsible for the wave of punctures that affected vehicles traveling toward Pattaya.
Initial reports suggested that nearly 100 vehicles may have been affected, although authorities had not yet released an official damage assessment at the time of reporting. Motorists were advised to avoid the area where possible and exercise extreme caution when traveling through the affected section of the motorway. The cause of the incident remains unclear. Authorities are expected to investigate how the nails ended up on the roadway and whether the incident resulted from an accident, unsecured cargo, or deliberate action.
The Bangkok–Ban Chang Motorway serves as a critical transport corridor connecting Bangkok, Chonburi, Pattaya, and Rayong, carrying large volumes of passenger and commercial traffic each day. Drivers using the route were urged to monitor traffic updates and inspect their vehicles carefully if they had traveled through the affected area.
