Seems that the village headman should be looking for better alternatives for his parishioners who need to dry their rice.
But, it surprises me that a local man was not expecting to come across piles of rice in the road at the end of rice harvesting season. When I first experienced this tradition, near to my wife's land in Surin, it took me no more than 2 minutes to adjust my driving accordingly.
Anyway, RIP young man - 38 is way too young to die.