An educational supervisor has been charged after a pickup truck collided with a motorcycle outside an army camp in Buriram, killing a 36-year-old soldier known locally as “Sergeant Khem”. The crash occurred at about 9.30pm on 22 June 2026 on the Buriram-Pakham Chai road outside the 23rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Company camp in Samet subdistrict, Mueang Buriram district.
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Police and rescue workers responded to reports of a collision involving a motorcycle and a vehicle. At the scene, officers found a damaged black Honda motorcycle registered in Surin province and the body of Staff Sergeant Naphatsakorn Sommutthiram, known as Sergeant Khem, lying near the central reservation. Investigators also recovered a detached registration plate, number BTH 5127 Buriram, close to the crash site.
Authorities later located a black Toyota Vigo pickup truck bearing the same registration number. The vehicle had sustained front-end damage and was found after apparently being unable to continue travelling, as the driver attempted to leave the scene.
CCTV footage from two locations showed Sergeant Khem riding his motorcycle out of the army camp and attempting to cross the four-lane road. A pickup truck was then seen approaching at speed and striking the motorcycle, throwing the soldier from his vehicle.
A local resident, 43-year-old Wipharat Phengphansi, who witnessed the aftermath, said the collision happened directly outside her home. She said Sergeant Khem was well known in the area as a friendly soldier who regularly greeted local residents and had served in combat operations on the Cambodian border on two occasions.
Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath
She said many people felt saddened by his death, noting that he had returned safely from both deployments only to lose his life in a road crash. According to local residents, Sergeant Khem had been planning to marry his girlfriend in the near future.
The driver later surrendered to police and was identified only as Tasawin, a special expert educational supervisor attached to the Buriram Secondary Educational Service Area Office. He told police he had not intended to flee but had driven away because he was shocked by the incident. He said he returned after regaining his composure.
ThaiRath reported that police conducted an alcohol test and reported that the result was negative, indicating he had not consumed alcohol before the crash. Investigators have initially charged him with causing death by dangerous or negligent driving and with failing to stop and provide assistance after a collision.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now ThaiRath 24 June 2026