Pictures courtesy of Komchadluek 

 

A man was found dead after his pickup truck crashed through the barrier of the old Sarasin Bridge in Phang Nga and plunged into the sea in the early hours of 18 November 2025. Emergency services launched a search following reports that the vehicle had disappeared underwater, with initial accounts suggesting the driver may have intended to take his own life. The truck and driver were submerged at a depth of more than 20 metres, prompting a large-scale recovery operation.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 03:10 when a black Toyota Vigo pushed aside a concrete barrier before striking the bridge railing on the Phangnga side near Ban Tha Nun, Khok Kloi, Takua Thung District. Search teams from the Phang Nga Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, the Regional Disaster Prevention Centre (Zone 18) in Phuket, local fishermen, village leaders and rescue foundations deployed boats and divers to scan beneath the bridge. Sonar equipment mounted on a fishing vessel later located the vehicle lying on its side underwater.

 

By 08:30, divers reached the submerged truck and discovered the body of the male driver still strapped into the seat with the seatbelt fastened. Recovery efforts were hampered by fast-moving water, delaying extraction of the driver, who was eventually thought to the shoreline.

 

Authorities confirmed the deceased as 51-year-old Treephat Rattanapong from Ban Na Doem District, Surat Thani, who was also the registered owner of the pickup. Officials stated that the cause of the crash remains unclear, with investigators continuing to examine all possible motives. The vehicle, a black Vigo with registration from Surat Thani, remains underwater as teams assess conditions for a safe lift.

 

Komchadluek reported that Phang Nga Governor Phairat Petsuan instructed all agencies to coordinate closely, prioritising public safety and the recovery of the vehicle. Authorities plan to attempt raising the truck from the seabed on 19 November, depending on sea conditions. Police are investigating why Mr Treephat drove into the bridge railing and whether any factors beyond speculation of self-harm may have contributed, as the investigation continues.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• The driver, Treephat Rattanapong, was found dead inside his submerged pickup after it plunged from the Sarasin Bridge.

• Strong currents delayed recovery of both the body and vehicle, with operations expected to continue on 19 November.

• Authorities are investigating the motive as the cause of the crash remains undetermined.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Komchadluek 2025-11-19

 

 

 

 

Always sad to hear of life loss. Strange that barriers did not stop the vehicle plunging into the sea. Looks like he left the road at a fair pace.

 

I cant help thinking of a term from Top Gear, he thought he was driving a "Toybota".

 

45 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

I cant help thinking of a term from Top Gear, he thought he was driving a "Toybota".

I prefer the line from the repair shop guy in ”Risky Business” after Tom Cruise drove a Porsche 928 into the water: ”Who's the U boat driver?”

UPDATE
Two Bodies Found in Pickup Involved in Bridge Crash

 

Picture courtesy of The Thaiger

 

Volunteer divers were shocked to discover a second body inside a submerged pickup truck after being called to investigate a suspected suicide at Sarasin Bridge on 18 November. The vehicle, a black Toyota Vigo, was seen plunging off the bridge into the water at around 03:00, prompting emergency teams from Tha Chatchai Police Station and the Kusol Dham Foundation to respond. The discovery immediately widened the scope of the investigation, as only a single victim had initially been  recovered.

 

The incident began when fisherman Nattawut Wongnui reported witnessing the pickup drive off the bridge after observing the driver walking around the area beforehand. Nattawut told police he believed the man intended to take his own life based on his behaviour before getting into the vehicle. Divers later located the truck about 20 metres underwater, but strong currents prevented the lifting of the entire vehicle, so authorities focused first on retrieving the driver.

 

The driver was identified as 49-year-old Treephat Rattanapong, who was found in the driver’s seat with his seatbelt fastened and holding a wooden statue of Guan Yin, the Bodhisattva of compassion and mercy. A second body, believed to be a woman and possibly Treephat’s girlfriend, was found later in the back seat, though her identity has not yet been released. Police noted that concrete barriers at the end of the bridge had been moved, leading investigators to suspect the couple may have shifted them deliberately to allow the vehicle to pass.

 

Family members were contacted and confirmed the pair had left their home in Surat Thani around midnight. Relatives reported that the woman had sent a farewell message to her family via Facebook Messenger before contact was lost. Both families told officers they were unaware of any motive behind what is now being investigated as a possible joint suicide.

 

Police are continuing to gather evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths. Officers plan to examine the vehicle further once conditions allow it to be fully retrieved from the water. The investigation will also review communications, movements and any additional witness accounts to identify the reasons for the couple’s tragic final actions.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Divers found two bodies in a pickup truck recovered from Phuket’s Sarasin Bridge following a suspected suicide.

• The driver was identified as Treephat Rattanapong, while the second body is believed to be his girlfriend.

• Police are investigating the case as a possible joint suicide after relatives confirmed a farewell message was sent.

 

 Adapted  by  Asean  Now from TheThaiger 2025-11-19