Motorcyclist Dies in Head-On Crash With Reversing Pickup Truck
A 30-year-old Bangkok motorcycle taxi driver died after colliding head-on with a Nissan pickup truck reversing across lanes on Sri Warin Noi Road in Samut Prakan on August 2, with the truck driver arrested on reckless driving charges.
A motorcyclist died in a devastating collision with a pickup truck driving in reverse on Sri Warin Noi Road in Bang Phleng, Samut Prakan province, on the evening of August 2. Emergency responders arrived at 11:38 p.m. to find Natthawut, a 30-year-old Honda Wave motorcycle taxi driver from Bangkok, severely injured and bleeding heavily. Despite more than 20 minutes of CPR efforts, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
CCTV footage and witness accounts confirmed that a black Nissan pickup truck with Udon Thani plates was driving in reverse and made a U-turn across lanes into oncoming traffic. The motorcyclist, unable to stop and skidding on the wet road, collided violently with the front of the truck. Witnesses reported that the motorcyclist was heading straight at speed and had no time to brake.
The victim's family arrived at the scene in distress, revealing that he worked as a ride-hailing driver and was heading out to pick up a passenger through an application when the accident occurred. The pickup truck driver, Worapoj, 48, admitted to driving in reverse intentionally to buy noodles from a nearby shop that turned out to be closed. He acknowledged consuming one beer before driving and failing to watch for oncoming traffic when making the U-turn.
Police took the truck driver into custody on charges of driving recklessly causing another person's death. He will undergo blood alcohol testing to determine if he exceeded legal limits, with additional charges to follow if warranted. The victim's body was transferred to Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital for autopsy.
