PATTAYA, Thailand – A Russian motorcyclist was killed and his friend injured after their motorcycle lost control and crashed into the central median at the notorious “deadly curve” on Jomtien Second Road on New Year’s Day morning.
The accident occurred at around 8:50 a.m. on January 1 near a condominium complex. Police from Pattaya City Police Station and rescue workers rushed to the scene after reports of a serious motorcycle crash involving foreign nationals.
At the site, officers found a green Yamaha Aerox motorcycle severely damaged after striking a tree on the road median, which was snapped by the impact. One rider, identified as Mr. Zubairu Zalkepov, a 28-year-old Russian national, was pronounced dead at the scene. His companion, Mr. Nikolai, 27, also from Russia, sustained injuries and was transported to Jomtien Hospital for treatment.
A security guard from a nearby condominium told police he heard a loud crash and ran outside to find two foreign men at the scene, one unconscious and the other sitting nearby in shock. Emergency services were called immediately, but rescuers later confirmed the rider had succumbed to his injuries.
Police believe the motorcycle was traveling at high speed before failing to negotiate the curve, causing it to veer off course and collide with the median. Investigations are ongoing.
The stretch of road where the crash occurred is widely known among locals as a high-risk curve, with residents reporting frequent accidents. Authorities confirmed that more than 10 fatal crashes have occurred at the same location over the past year, raising renewed concerns about road safety, speed control, and warning signage in the area.
