It was an ordinary Monday afternoon on Phahonyothin Road in Mueang Chai Nat — until a 67-year-old pickup driver and a very unfortunate cow had a dramatic run-in that left both sides bruised, battered and the local community buzzing.
At around 3:30 pm on September 1, emergency calls poured into Mueang Chai Nat police after a silver Toyota Vigo ploughed into a large female cow in the inbound lane near Moo 5, Ban Kluai subdistrict, directly opposite Wat Tha Chang. The scene that greeted officers and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation was chaotic: the cow was lying in the middle of the road with multiple fractures, broken legs and back injuries, faeces scattered across the tarmac, and the startled animal unable to rise.
Nearby sat the Toyota Vigo, registration Phor Khor 1043 Phitsanulok, with a crumpled front end and a dented bonnet. The vehicle’s side was smeared in cow droppings — a grim testament to the force of the impact. The driver, identified as 67-year-old Bunyang, had injuries to his abdomen and arm. Rescue crews wasted no time: Bunyang was transported to Chai Nat Narenthorn Hospital for treatment, while the badly hurt cow received veterinary attention at the scene.
A split-second decision, a lifetime of consequences
Bunyang told reporters he was heading to refuel a crane when the cow suddenly dashed across the road’s median. “There was no time to swerve,” he said, recalling a moment that could have been far worse if not for the airbag. “It was a loud crash. Luckily, the airbag deployed; otherwise, I would have been more severely injured. I’ve driven for decades and never experienced anything like this before.”
That single sentence captures the terrifying unpredictability of rural roads in many parts of Thailand, where free-roaming livestock and a narrow margin for driver reaction can combine into dangerous situations in the blink of an eye.
When the animal is a liability
Investigators traced the cow back to a local owner named Benz. Police say Benz had allowed the animal to roam freely — a practice that had already produced several near-miss accidents in the area. With the cow severely injured and unlikely to recover, authorities arranged for it to be taken to a slaughterhouse; any proceeds from the sale will be used to help cover damages. Police have informed Benz that he faces legal action for permitting the animal to wander onto the road, and formal charges are pending.
The decision to send the animal to slaughter is practical, if grim: when an animal is too badly injured to salvage and causes damage to property or people, Thai officials often opt to liquidate the livestock to offset costs. It’s an outcome that stings both for the animal and for the owner, and it highlights the legal responsibility livestock owners carry when their animals are allowed off-premises.
Community, caution and a cautionary tale
Local volunteers and first responders deserve credit for a swift and coordinated response. The Ruamkatanyu Foundation team, alongside police, secured the scene, tended to the injured driver and animal, and handled the messy aftermath — literally. In rural Thai districts, volunteers like these are the backbone of emergency response.
But the incident also serves as a blunt reminder: free-roaming livestock are not just a nuisance — they’re a safety hazard. For drivers, vigilance on provincial highways and rural routes must be constant. For owners, tethering or properly penning animals is a legal and moral obligation. And for local authorities, continued enforcement and public education about the risks of stray animals on roads are crucial.
What happens next?
Police are moving forward with legal proceedings against Benz. Meanwhile, Bunyang recuperates at Chai Nat Narenthorn Hospital. The Toyota Vigo will likely require significant repair work — and perhaps a fresh set of nerves for its owner — after the crash that left the bonnet dented and the front end damaged.
Reporters on the scene noted the grim details and human elements that mirror countless rural traffic incidents: a split-second dash, airborne airbags, the tang of diesel and the unmistakable smell of livestock. Media outlets KhaoSod reported Bunyang’s account, and photos of the aftermath were circulated courtesy of Matichon.
The wider picture
This crash is part of a broader problem across many provinces: road accidents involving stray animals are a recurring threat to public safety. Simple measures — stronger enforcement of livestock containment, clearer signage on known roaming routes, and faster emergency response — could reduce the frequency and severity of such events.
For now, the stretch of Phahonyothin Road opposite Wat Tha Chang will be the spot Chai Nat residents remember for a while: a cautionary tale about responsibility, luck and how quickly an ordinary journey can turn into something far less ordinary.
Picture credit: Matichon. Reporting: KhaoSod.
This was my beat earlier today and I still can’t believe it happened opposite Wat Tha Chang. The driver looked shaken but alive, while the cow was badly hurt and the decision to slaughter it was brutal but practical. Owners must be held accountable, but we also need better barriers on these roads.
Holding owners accountable is fine, but do we have enough vets and safe shelters to keep animals penned? Blaming people is easy; fixing infrastructure costs money.
If the animal was loose multiple times before, why did police wait for an accident to act? There should be fines and immediate impoundment after the first complaint.
Police said there were near-misses reported, but enforcement is sporadic; I’ll follow up with local authorities and post what they say.
It breaks my heart that the cow was sent to slaughter after being hit — animals deserve better protection, and owners should treat livestock humanely. But I also feel for the driver, he could have been killed. This is a moral and legal mess.
As a smallholder, I can tell you some of us can’t afford fences. But loose livestock are dangerous, and sometimes hard choices must be made.
Compassion is noble, but victims’ rights matter too. If an animal causes damage, the owner should pay and face penalties; otherwise nothing changes.
I agree owners should pay, but there should be subsidies or community solutions so poor owners aren’t ruined for one accident.
From a public policy perspective, this incident highlights weak enforcement and lack of investment in rural road safety. Signage, nighttime reflectors on livestock, and stronger community reporting systems could reduce incidents. Research shows education campaigns reduce roaming animals by up to 30% in some regions.
Reflectors on cows? That sounds expensive and impractical, especially for large herds.
There are affordable reflective collars used elsewhere, and communities can share costs. It’s not rocket science, just organization.
Exactly — pilot projects with shared funding and local volunteers could show results, then scale up with provincial support.
People keep saying ‘owners must pay’ but don’t ask what enforcement looks like in a village where everyone is related. It’s messy and personal.
I’m the owner named in the report. I never meant harm and I’m devastated. I’ll cooperate with the police, but please understand this was an accident.
So many accidents could be avoided if drivers slowed down and kept eyes on the shoulder.
Drivers have responsibilities, sure, but at 3:30 pm visibility is good and speed limits exist. The legal angle is clear: owner negligence matters and compensation must follow.
Speed limits on rural roads are often ignored and rarely enforced; blaming drivers alone is hypocritical when enforcement is absent for both drivers and owners.
Fair point about enforcement. But we can’t let that excuse negligence; both sides need accountability or nothing changes.
My brother lost a goat on the main road last year and the community barely helped. This is a systemic problem of rural neglect. Why aren’t local councils doing more?
Local councils are underfunded and many officials are volunteers. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s that they lack resources and political backing.
I drive this stretch often; animals are frequent hazards and drivers adapt, but surprises happen. Better fences near the median and occasional patrols would help, and fines should be publicized.
Publicizing fines might humiliate poor owners who can’t afford to pay, pushing them further into hardship. Solutions must be humane and practical.
Agreed, fines should be paired with aid programs — not just punishments. Community-driven containment programs could work.
We published the photos because the public needs to see the reality on these roads, not to sensationalize but to prompt action. If you think we crossed a line, say why.
Photos are important for accountability, but media must balance public interest with dignity for owners and avoid shaming those who are already grieving.
We tried to be respectful; we blurred faces where necessary and focused on facts. The goal was to spark a conversation, and clearly it did.
This reads like a failure of collective responsibility — driver, owner, council and media all share blame in different ways. Let’s stop pointing fingers and design local workshops on animal containment.
Workshops sound great, but who will fund them? Promises often die in committee.
The notion of sending the cow to slaughter feels cold, but I understand the financial logic. Still, it’s a bleak reflection of how we value animals versus people.
It’s brutal, but if the animal is also a source of livelihood, selling carcass to cover costs is a pragmatic, if ugly, solution.
Why not require microchipping or registration of livestock with visible contact numbers on tags? Makes retrieval and responsibility clearer.
In theory that’s great, but enforcement and the extra cost of chips and tags burden poor farmers; needs subsidies.
I’m a truck driver and I swear animals on the road are the scariest thing. One moment you’re fine, next moment life changes. More reflectors, better pens, and driver education would help.
Thanks for the perspective, Ben — I’ll ask responders about driver training programs and whether insurance covers incidents like these.