Morning traffic on Highway 36 turned into a scene of tragedy and twisted metal on the wet tarmac of August 23. At about 7:30 a.m., an 18-wheeler Hino truck careered off the Pattaya-Kratinglai-Rayong stretch in front of Bee Garden, ploughing into the median ditch and leaving a trail of destruction — a snapped streetlight pole, mangled metal guardrails and debris strewn across the roadway.
Bang Lamung police, led at the scene by Police Lieutenant Colonel Aphichet Metheethammaporn, found the cab battered at the front. The human loss was discovered nearby: 58-year-old truck driver Komsan Kamwasi was lying close to the vehicle’s rear wheels, wearing a blue round-neck shirt and jeans. He had suffered fatal chest injuries and a fractured skull. Investigators believe Komsan was ejected from the cabin during the violent impact and tragically run over by his own vehicle.
The harrowing discovery came not from a passing motorist but from a colleague. Forty-eight-year-old Sayan, who works for the same logistics company, had just finished delivering steel to a Rayong factory and was returning along the highway when he spotted the familiar truck wrecked on the roadside.
“I stopped to check and found Komsan unconscious outside the cab. I called emergency services on 1669 right away,” Sayan told investigators, according to The Pattaya News.
Sayan suggested rain-slicked pavement may have played a role. He told police he thought Komsan might have swerved to avoid something on the road and that the force of the impact could have thrown him through the door or windscreen. Those are early impressions that need to be tested against evidence — most importantly, dashcam footage.
Police are cooperating with the trucking company to obtain and review any available dashcam recordings, a step that could be pivotal for reconstructing the final moments before the crash. While a preliminary scene investigation was completed, authorities have not yet determined the exact cause.
“The rain may have made the road slick, but we’re still reviewing all evidence,” Pol. Lt. Col. Aphichet said at the scene. “We will announce our findings once the dashcam footage is analysed.”
Komsan’s body has been transported for a post-mortem examination, and the wrecked Hino was towed away for forensic inspection. At the same time, officers continue to collect witness statements and scan for camera footage from nearby vehicles and roadside cameras that could shed light on what caused the truck to leave its lane and strike the median.
Highway 36 is a busy artery connecting Pattaya and Rayong, and morning commuters were left shaken by the crash. Beyond the human tragedy, the collision disrupted traffic flow and served as a sobering reminder of how quickly routine hauls can turn catastrophic on Thailand’s roads — especially during the monsoon season when rain can transform asphalt into a slick hazard.
For the logistics company and for Sayan — who discovered his colleague in those final moments — the crash is a shocking and personal blow. For police, it is a case that will hinge on footage and forensic detail: speed, vehicle condition, weather, and whether anything on the road forced evasive action.
The community response was immediate and empathetic. Neighbours, fellow drivers and passing motorists stopped to help and watch as first responders worked to secure the scene. The wreckage — a crumpled cab and a broken streetlight — stood as a stark visual of the accident’s force.
As Pattaya authorities continue their enquiries, the case will move through standard procedures: post-mortem conclusions, dashcam analysis, and, if needed, a deeper forensic investigation of the truck itself. Officials urge anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage from the Highway 36 corridor around 7:30 a.m. on August 23 to come forward to assist with the inquiry.
For now, Komsan’s death is being treated with the full investigatory attention it demands. In the coming days investigators will piece together the sequence of events that led from a routine haul to a highway horror, hoping the answers they find can bring clarity to grieving colleagues and reduce the risk of similar tragedies on Pattaya’s roads.
This is awful — another truck fatality on Highway 36 and it keeps happening every monsoon. The company should be held accountable if they pressure drivers to meet impossible schedules, and the state must fix drainage and guardrails. Dashcam will tell a lot but don’t wait for footage to demand safer roads.
From a forensic perspective, ejection suggests either no restraint or a violent intrusion of the cab; reconstruction of deceleration forces will be key. Weather complicates things but doesn’t absolve mechanical failure or human factors.
We ship things for a living and weather is always used as an excuse. If the truck’s brakes or tires were worn, that’s on the company and the inspector. Families shouldn’t pay for corporate negligence.
Sometimes drivers are forced to drive in unsafe conditions though; it’s not just inspectors, it’s also dispatchers and quotas.
Exactly, Joe — I know drivers who say they skip rest to hit deadlines. The company CEOs need to answer questions, not just the driver be blamed.
Asking for witnesses to come forward is good, but it’s too little too late for the victim. Thailand’s highways need stricter enforcement and mandatory dashcams with tamper-proof storage. People keep dying while investigations drag on.
Dashcams are great, but they get ignored in court sometimes. If police are lax about following up, footage won’t change anything unless the public pushes for transparency.
This is heartbreaking on a human level; Komsan had a family and colleagues who will never be the same. Blaming systems is valid, but we must also support grieving families immediately — financial aid and counseling.
Anita, yes — immediate support matters. But long term, policy change is needed or we’ll see repeat tragedies every monsoon season.
I suspect overloaded cargo or faulty brakes. Those Hino cabs are tough but maintenance cuts cost, not corners. If the truck left the lane suddenly, something failed mechanically or load shifted badly.
Mechanical failure or load shift both point back to the company for maintenance and secure loading procedures. Drivers can only do so much when they’re sent out with subpar equipment.
Agree, Kanya — I hope investigators do a thorough forensic check of the braking system and trailer coupling.
Forensic analysis should consider tire tread depth, brake condition, steering components, and event data if available. Ejection suggests significant cabin intrusion or lack of seatbelt use; calculating Δv from telemetry will help determine whether the impact itself caused the ejection.
Dashcam plus vehicle telematics would be ideal, but many logistics trucks lack black-box recorders. Even GPS speed logs from the company could help triangulate speed and deceleration.
Why didn’t he wear a seatbelt? That would help.
Seatbelt restraints in large truck cabs are effective, but older trucks or modified cabs sometimes lack modern restraint systems; investigators must verify cab configuration.
I found him and called emergency services right away; it still haunts me. I came back from a job and recognized the truck, and I kept thinking he was going to wake up.
Sayan, I can’t imagine how painful that must be. The company should provide counseling and be transparent about the investigation so coworkers don’t feel left in the dark.
They did bring us to a room and told us basic info, but we deserve full answers and some help with funeral costs if company negligence is found.
Sad story. Drivers are exhausted, roads are slick, and emergency response is slow sometimes. We need a culture change in logistics, not just PR statements.
This feels like a pattern where the blame game starts with weather and ends with no one held accountable. Families deserve justice, not platitudes. Fix the system or keep losing people.
Justice requires proof, Joe, and proof requires data. Emotions are valid but don’t replace evidence in court.
I know, Larry, but the public also needs to demand better regulations while the forensics happen. Waiting quietly won’t change corporate behavior.
I’ve loaded trucks for years and one bad tie-down can turn a haul into a death sentence in rain. Training and accountability at loading yards need overhaul. Drivers shouldn’t be punished for speaking up.
Training is key, but enforcement is even more important. Companies often do the minimum to pass audits, not to actually keep people safe, and regulators must do surprise inspections more often.
Surprise checks would help, yes. And unions or worker groups could give drivers leverage to refuse unsafe runs.
Reading articles like this, I always wonder if the media will follow up beyond the initial report. Headlines fade and families are left alone. Accountability needs persistence.
I watched the video of a similar crash last month and dashcams made all the difference in assigning responsibility. If nearby cameras caught this, speed and evasive maneuvers will be visible. Let’s hope authorities secure that footage.
Quality and angle matter; some cameras miss crucial frames. Investigators should catalogue all sources and preserve footage immediately to prevent overwriting.
Good point — I hope investigators treat dashcam data as perishable evidence and issue preservation notices to surrounding businesses.
Please remember the human cost: Komsan’s family will grieve forever and coworkers will relive the scene. We can argue systems and forensics, but let’s also organize support drives and memorials for the family.
I agree, Anita — practical help is necessary. Donations and legal aid for the family should be organized by the workforce, not just left to chance.
I’ll share resources for grief counseling and a community fund in the local groups; collective action matters in moments like this.
What worries me is that commuters saw this happen and will be traumatized, too. Road safety affects all of us, and traffic design like medians and lighting must account for heavy vehicles in storms.