Pictures courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 47-year-old woman was found in a shocking state on the morning of 23 June, submerged in a 200-litre drum of sticky asphalt in Lopburi Province. She remains in critical condition in hospital, as police and locals attempt to understand the bizarre sequence of events leading up to her discovery.

 

Police Lieutenant Sitthipong Sangthes, an investigator at Khok Samrong Police Station, received a report at approximately 08:30 of a person trapped inside a drum of asphalt on Lam Lalaeng Road, Wang Krathum Subdistrict, Khok Samrong District.

 

Rescue workers from the Khok Samrong Songkroh Foundation found the woman, her head shaved, face smeared with tar and body entirely stuck, still breathing but unable to move. Emergency services initially attempted to free her on-site without success. Due to her deteriorating condition, she was transported, still inside the drum, to Khok Samrong Hospital.

At the hospital, doctors provided urgent first aid while rescue personnel cut open the drum to pull her out and removed the woman’s tar-covered clothing. She remains in a critical condition and is currently on a ventilator under close medical supervision.

The woman was later identified as Ms. Sarunthorn aged 47, after police found her ID card at the scene. Investigators also confirmed she had visited Wat Si Rattanapracharam in Khok Samrong the previous afternoon, where she donated a blue motorised tricycle and dry goods, telling the monks she was offering “everything, including the vehicle.” The temple had not yet touched the donated items, which included cooking supplies and what appeared to be a mobile noodle stall setup.

A local resident, Mr. Chanon 52, was the first to discover her. He told police he was walking past the roadwork site when he glanced into the drum and saw what appeared to be a lifeless body submerged in the thick black tar. Shocked, he alerted local authorities.

 

Nearby residents stated they had seen a woman matching her description walking near a local grilled chicken shop at around 05;00, assuming she was exercising. They expressed disbelief that she somehow ended up in a construction drum located 7–8 kilometres from the temple.

 

CCTV footage reviewed from the temple to the scene showed the woman wearing a black t-shirt with the phrase “Stunningly Beautiful” across the chest, long trousers, a cap and black sandals. She also appeared to have a minor injury to her left cheekbone.

 

Police are now contacting her family to gain insight into her mental state and the possible motive or circumstances behind her actions. The incident has baffled the local community, with many questioning how the woman could have ended up in such a dire situation alone.

 

Authorities are continuing to investigate the events leading up to the incident.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-24

 

 

 

57 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

47-year-old woman was found in a shocking state on the morning of 23 June, submerged in a 200-litre drum of sticky asphalt

How bizarre. 

 

Looking forward to reading comments from our members, the A team of AN investigators, I'm sure they will crack this sticky case.