Pattaya Worker Killed in Highway Collision with Parked Truck

PATTAYA, Thailand – A factory worker was killed after his motorcycle slammed into the back of a parked 18-wheel trailer truck on Highway 331, East Pattaya, during the early hours of July 24. Rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon and medical teams were called to the scene at around 1:36 a.m. after reports that a motorcycle had collided with the rear of a trailer truck near the Forest Office in Khao Mai Kaew. Authorities found the area was poorly lit, with several roadside lights out along a long stretch of the highway, making visibility difficult for motorists. The trailer truck, a white Hino 18-wheeler registered in Chachoengsao, was parked on the roadside. Behind it, a white Yamaha Fino motorcycle was found heavily damaged after apparently striking the rear of the trailer without braking. The rider, identified as Nattapong Kaweeboon, an employee of MYC Maintenance, was found dead at the scene. Rescue crews used cutting equipment to remove the body from the wreckage. The truck driver, 41-year-old Attawut Klambunsawat, told police he was travelling toward Sattahip when he stopped on the roadside because he needed to use the restroom. After returning to his cab, he said he was using his mobile phone when he heard a loud impact less than five minutes later. He said he got out and discovered that a motorcycle had crashed into the rear of his trailer before contacting police and rescue teams. Police recorded evidence and questioned the truck driver while checking nearby CCTV footage to determine the exact cause of the crash. The incident has renewed calls for authorities to repair broken streetlights along Highway 331, with residents warning that poor visibility could lead to further serious accidents.