Storm Topples Tree Across Road; 42-Year-Old Motorcyclist Unable to See Obstacle Crashes Fatally with Broken Neck
A 42-year-old motorcyclist died when his bike struck a storm-felled tree blocking an unlit road in Udon Thani Province on April 23, leaving him with a fatal broken neck.
A grieving family mourns the loss of a hardworking village man who died in a tragic accident when a storm-felled tree blocked the dark road ahead of his motorcycle, resulting in a fatal collision. The tragedy occurred at 8 p.m. on April 23, 2025, when police sergeant Jessada Wongwai from Kudjab Police Station in Udon Thani Province responded to a report of a motorcycle sidecar hitting a massive forest tree that had been toppled by strong winds across the road between Ban Bo Khram and Ban Kok Sawang village in Kudjab District. At the scene, authorities found the body of 42-year-old Janchai Mai lying face down with a broken neck in the middle of the road, his face severely disfigured from the violent impact with the tree. His motorcycle sidecar was found 3 meters away, while family members and neighbors gathered at the scene in tears, mourning the loss of a beloved and hardworking man.
According to initial information, the deceased worked as a construction contractor and spent his free time catching frogs, crabs, and fish to support his family. That evening, he rode out toward the rice fields unaware that a large tree had been blown down by strong winds across the road about 1.5 kilometers from his home on an unlit stretch of highway, resulting in the fatal collision. Authorities will conduct a formal investigation and proceed with legal proceedings.
