Chicken Vendor Discovers Dead Body in Remote Roadside Area

A grilled chicken vendor napping with his wife during the day felt as though someone nudged him awake. He got up to investigate and discovered a body in a wooded area by the roadside. Authorities believe the man was an illegal cable thief who died when a large streetlight fixture fell on him.

Bangbuathong Police Station officers and volunteers from a charity foundation responded at 5 p.m. on September 21, 2026, after being alerted to a male body found beneath a streetlight on Highway 345 in Lamhae Sub-district, Bangbuathong District, Nonthaburi Province. A forensic doctor from the Institute of Forensic Medicine conducted an examination at the scene.

The body was identified as a man in his 40s wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and black sweatpants. The corpse showed signs of decomposition after approximately two days. Beside the body was a cloth bag containing tools such as wire cutters, screwdrivers, a headlamp, and cut rope. The body lay beneath a 30-meter-high streetlight, near a fallen light fixture. Examination revealed the victim died from blunt force trauma to the head, not electrocution, as the power cables at that pole had been previously stolen.

When questioned, the chicken vendor explained that while resting in the area, he felt something nudge his leg. He woke up and walked toward the sensation, discovering what appeared to be an electrician's body. He called a friend for help before police were notified. He stated he would not normally have ventured into that area, but felt compelled to investigate.

Sitichai Samprom, chief of Bangbuathong Highway Operations, said the victim likely entered the area to steal copper cables, inadvertently causing the heavy light fixture above to collapse on him. The death was caused by the falling fixture, not electrocution. Sitichai noted that power cables at the pole had been cut and stolen previously.

Theft from utility infrastructure in the area is widespread. Perpetrators typically steal electrical cables to extract copper, along with light fixture components for resale. Highway officials have identified at least 10 poles stripped of cables and are pursuing criminal cases. Streetlight fixtures and island lighting poles have also been extensively targeted. Officials have moved cables higher on poles as a preventive measure, though thieves previously stole underground cables entirely. Other infrastructure including drainage channels, bridge railings, and manhole covers have also been stolen. Authorities are urging citizens to report suspicious activity at the Department of Highways emergency hotline: 1586.