Pattaya Rescue: Saman Drives Onto Railway Tracks While Intoxicated

It was one of those midnight misadventures that could have ended in headlines nobody wants to read: a 54-year-old man, later identified as Saman, somehow found himself driving along an active railway track in Pattaya while under the influence. The drama unfolded in the quiet hours of December 8, when rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammasathan Pattaya Foundation were alerted to a car crawling perilously along the rails in Nong Prue sub-district, Bang Lamung district, at about 12:30 a.m.

Imagine the scene: the narrow strip of metal and gravel meant for locomotives became an accidental roadway, a sedan inching forward like a confused, exhausted snail. Trains don’t send text messages before they arrive—so the risk was immediate and grave. Rescuers arrived swiftly, found the vehicle immobile on the track, and sprang into action. They blocked the car’s path and signaled Saman to stop, a tense moment that could have tilted one way or another in a heartbeat.

Local residents and the rescue team pooled their strength, and what followed was a gritty, communal effort worthy of a human-interest broadcast. People pushed, lifted, and wrestled the car off the rails amid the cold hum of the early morning. It wasn’t elegant; it took grit and cooperation, but they did it. The vehicle was finally removed to safety—though not before an unpleasant discovery: a dead cat nearby, believed to have been struck by the car. Thankfully, Saman himself escaped uninjured.

Saman later explained to officers that he had been trying to get home after following what he thought was a shortcut. He’d seen a motorcyclist slip into a small side path and trailed the rider, only to realize too late that he had driven onto the railway line. His car became stuck, and despite attempts to move forward and reverse, it would not budge. In his own words he felt fortunate that vigilant locals noticed and intervened before the situation turned tragic.

Once the car was off the rails, the rescue team had to leave it beside the track. The scene’s layout and other obstacles meant a tow truck was needed to put the vehicle back onto the road—a reminder that sometimes the best rescue is a simple mechanical assist rather than brute force.

Incidents like this are a sobering reminder of how quickly ordinary moments can become dangerous. Thailand has seen several railway accidents in recent years, many stemming from motorists ignoring warning horns and signal lights or misjudging the approach of an oncoming train. The country’s rail network passes through busy and sometimes narrow communities, and when human error or poor judgment meets moving metal, the consequences can be fatal.

One particularly tragic case that resonated nationwide happened in December last year, when a TikToker in Ratchaburi reportedly sat on the tracks to film content and was struck by a train approaching from behind. That incident—and others like it—has sparked conversations about public awareness, platform responsibility, and the risks people take in pursuit of a viral moment or a perceived shortcut.

What makes the Pattaya incident stand out is not just the close call but the community response. Strangers worked together in the small hours to pull someone out of a perilous situation, showing how local vigilance can make the difference between a near miss and a catastrophe. It’s an example of ordinary people doing extraordinary things—in this case, lifting a car and a potential disaster off a would-be death path.

That said, there are a few takeaways everyone should note:

• Never attempt to drive under the influence. Impaired judgment and slower reaction times turn every risk into a gamble with other people’s lives.
• When following unfamiliar routes at night, be extra cautious. If something feels wrong—narrow tracks, unusual signage, or an unexpected dirt path—stop and reassess rather than following someone blindly.
• If you see a vehicle stuck on a railway, act fast but safely: block the line of travel if possible, alert emergency services, and seek local help rather than trying dangerous maneuvers alone.

The Pattaya episode could easily have ended very differently. Instead, residents and rescuers turned a potentially tragic story into a rescue anecdote—one that will likely be retold as a cautionary tale around Pattaya for some time. Let it be a reminder that roads are for cars, rails are for trains, and good judgment (plus a little community spirit) can pull us back from the edge when we need it most.