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Russian Tourist Killed in Phuket Motorcycle Crash With Pickup

Featured Replies

 

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Pictures courtesy of Khaosod 

 

A foreign tourist was killed and another person injured after a motorcycle collided head-on with a pickup truck on a hillside road in Phuket on December 25, causing traffic disruption and prompting a police investigation. The crash occurred at about 5pm on the Kata–Sai Yuan road near the Sam Ao Viewpoint in Karon subdistrict. Emergency services attended the scene, where one rider died instantly and a passenger was taken to hospital.

 

Police said officers from Karon Police Station were alerted by the local radio centre and dispatched to investigate the collision. The road where the crash occurred is steep and winding, with two traffic lanes separated by a solid yellow line. It is a popular route for tourists travelling to scenic viewpoints in the area.

 

The pickup driver was identified as Sorachai Thaodaeng, 50, who was driving a white Isuzu registered in Bangkok with green licence plates. He was not injured, although the front right side of his vehicle sustained damage. Police confirmed that he remained at the scene and cooperated fully with officers.

 

The deceased rider was identified as Polina, a Russian national who was riding a Honda Click motorcycle with red temporary registration plates. The passenger was identified as Artem Podmazov, also Russian and he suffered injuries requiring medical treatment. His condition was not disclosed by authorities.

 

Preliminary investigations indicated that the motorcycle crossed the solid line into the oncoming lane before the collision. Police said the pickup was travelling in the opposite direction from the Sam Ao Viewpoint when the crash occurred. Officers documented the scene, vehicle damage and road conditions as part of their inquiry.

 

Khoasod reported that the incident has renewed attention on safety concerns along Phuket’s hilly and winding roads, which see frequent use by both residents and visitors. Police reiterated that the case remains under investigation and will be handled in accordance with legal procedures. Officials urged all road users to exercise caution on similar routes.

 

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Key Takeaways

 

• A foreign tourist died and another was injured in a motorcycle and pickup collision in Phuket on December 25.

• Police said the motorcycle crossed a solid line on a steep, winding road before the crash.

• Investigations are ongoing, with legal proceedings to follow after evidence is reviewed.

 

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image.png Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-12-27


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Caution video courtesy of Phuketinsta shows the collision

 

 

  • Popular Post

Beautiful road to ride a bike. Looks like an inexperienced rider, he wasn't even driving fast. Road is also in excellent condition there.

8 hours ago, stevenl said:

Beautiful road to ride a bike. Looks like an inexperienced rider, he wasn't even driving fast. Road is also in excellent condition there.

Indeed, the motorcyclist was driving erratically and made a sudden turn.

Incidentally, it wasn't a pick-up truck but an SUV.


As for the road, I agree, there are still some beautiful stretches on Phuket.

  • Popular Post
22 hours ago, stevenl said:

Beautiful road to ride a bike. Looks like an inexperienced rider, he wasn't even driving fast. Road is also in excellent condition there.

She obviously had no concept of how a motorcycle turns in a medium speed curve. She didn't counter steer and resisted the bikes tendency to lean.

 

She resists the lean and that's why the bike is in the middle of the road by the time the turn was done 

  • Popular Post
14 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

Indeed, the motorcyclist was driving erratically and made a sudden turn.

Incidentally, it wasn't a pick-up truck but an SUV.


As for the road, I agree, there are still some beautiful stretches on Phuket.

She wasn't riding erratically. She simply has no grasp on how to ride a motorcycle. You need to counter steer and allow a motorcycle to lean to get around a corner. She simply resists the lean which tracks the bike into the oncoming lane. 

 

She probably heard all the propaganda about how speeding is what kills. And if you ride slow (like she did) , you'll be fine. Well that's not how it works at all. 

 

But it keeps happening because nobody actually learns anything about riding. 

I struggle to understand how riding this poorly is even possible. 

 

Its tragic that someone lost their life, however, its very fortunate for the driver that this was caught on dash-cam and once again, highlights the importance of having a dash-cam - we share the roads with a range of driving riding standards.

 

I wonder if...

a) The rider was licensed (clearly inexperienced).

b) if the motorcycle was rented out illegally by a rental-shop not checking for licenses.

32 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I struggle to understand how riding this poorly is even possible. 

I have seen Chinese fall over on their bike in a curve due to driving too slow.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I struggle to understand how riding this poorly is even possible. 

 

Its tragic that someone lost their life, however, its very fortunate for the driver that this was caught on dash-cam and once again, highlights the importance of having a dash-cam - we share the roads with a range of driving riding standards.

 

I wonder if...

a) The rider was licensed (clearly inexperienced).

b) if the motorcycle was rented out illegally by a rental-shop not checking for licenses.

It's highly unlikely that the rider had anything more than pedal bike experience 

 

You don't need a motorcycle license to rent a scooter. It is all down to personal responsibility in Thailand. Nobodys there to hold your hand.

19 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

It's highly unlikely that the rider had anything more than pedal bike experience 

 

You don't need a motorcycle license to rent a scooter. It is all down to personal responsibility in Thailand. Nobodys there to hold your hand.

 

'Legally' - you do need a motorcycle licence to both 'rent' and 'ride' a motorcycle / scooter in Thailand...  

 

If we are going to get into the 50cc power - licence enforcement debate, it would be moot as that scooter / motorcycle was greater than 110cc anyway.

Inexperienced rider on a motorbike... never ends well

Target fixation.

Seen far too often bikes leave the road and/or hit car/pole etc.

When riding any bike keep looking were you want to go, never stare at that you wish to miss.

 

Requiescat in Pace

13 hours ago, tmd5855 said:

Target fixation.

Seen far too often bikes leave the road and/or hit car/pole etc.

When riding any bike keep looking were you want to go, never stare at that you wish to miss.

 

Requiescat in Pace

 

It wasn't target fixation. And that also isn't why bikes leave the road and hit things. It is a popular theory but it is unhelpful. She simply resisted the lean of the bike which is why she ended up in the oncoming lane

On 12/28/2025 at 1:30 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

'Legally' - you do need a motorcycle licence to both 'rent' and 'ride' a motorcycle / scooter in Thailand...  

 

If we are going to get into the 50cc power - licence enforcement debate, it would be moot as that scooter / motorcycle was greater than 110cc anyway.

So it is just completely unenforced then. Everyone rents them and all you need is a passport. In the mid 2000's anyway.

I started getting an intl drivers license for my trips because they only cost $15 and were cheaper than the fine

1 hour ago, Harsh Jones said:
On 12/28/2025 at 11:30 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

'Legally' - you do need a motorcycle licence to both 'rent' and 'ride' a motorcycle / scooter in Thailand...  

 

If we are going to get into the 50cc power - licence enforcement debate, it would be moot as that scooter / motorcycle was greater than 110cc anyway.

So it is just completely unenforced then. Everyone rents them and all you need is a passport. In the mid 2000's anyway.

I started getting an intl drivers license for my trips because they only cost $15 and were cheaper than the fine

Correct - occasionally, when there is enough 'media attention' there will be one of Thailand's famed announcements of a crackdown where nothing actually happens....

.... The announcements include that Police will crackdown on companies illegally renting their motorcycles out to those without the correct motorcycle licence.

What usually happens... rental shops etc don't change anything, continue to rent out to everyone and anyone and its just the tourists who are stopped and fined for not having the correct licence.

Sometimes the Police are switched on enough to recongnise that an International License (IDP) for a Car is just that - and does not in fact permit someone to ride a motorcycle - in other area's the Police accept a regular drivers licence (from your home country) so long as it has the Silhouette of a motorcycle on it (i.e. showing endorsement for a low-powered <50cc type bike) - the Police often don't know the difference and in some area's they do.

The best advice I can give - is if you don't have a Motorcycle licence in your home country, to try and use your Home Country Car License (especially if its in English) to get an Motorcycle licence - at least this way, IF you are relying on travel insurance you are 'legally riding' and your insurance should pay out for medical bills should you have an accident.

Note: For tourists - there are added complications of getting a Thai License, i.e. Proof of address etc... But it can be done.

On 12/29/2025 at 11:23 PM, Harsh Jones said:

 

It wasn't target fixation. And that also isn't why bikes leave the road and hit things. It is a popular theory but it is unhelpful. She simply resisted the lean of the bike which is why she ended up in the oncoming lane

She told you this!! Asking for a friend.

On 1/3/2026 at 7:13 PM, tmd5855 said:

She told you this!! Asking for a friend.

It is blatantly obvious when you watch the video of the whole thing happen. And it matches the hundreds of other videos of the same thing happening.

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