A 46-year-old American man was seriously injured after being struck by a car while crossing Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya in the early hours of 2 April 2026. The crash occurred at 01:45, near the entrance to the Central Pattaya underpass. Emergency responders reported the victim was found lying in the road in a pool of blood and barely breathing.

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Rescue services from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya were alerted to a car-pedestrian collision and coordinated with officers from Pattaya City Police Station before attending the scene. A white Toyota Yaris was found with front-end damage and a shattered windscreen. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Ms Wannawipha, was travelling with her Turkish boyfriend as a passenger.

The injured man, identified only as Mr James, 46, a United States national, was given first aid at the scene before being rushed to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya for urgent treatment. His condition was described as critical at the time of rescue. Authorities have not released further updates on his medical status.

According to Ms Wannawipha, she was driving to the airport to drop off her boyfriend when the victim suddenly ran across the road in front of her vehicle. She said she was unable to brake in time, causing an impact that threw the man onto the road. She immediately stopped and contacted emergency services for assistance.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Suthiraphan Thapasri, an investigating officer at Pattaya City Police Station, documented the scene and is reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation. Officials stated that evidence will be examined carefully to ensure fair legal proceedings for all parties involved.

Pictures courtesy of SiamChon

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Adapted by ASEAN Now SiamChon 2 Apr 2026

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6 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The crash occurred at 01:45

According to Ms Wannawipha, she was driving to the airport to drop off her boyfriend when the victim suddenly ran across the road in front of her vehicle.

Crossing the Sukhumvit in day light is a suicide run.

Early hours, Alcohol and Thai chicks. 🤔

Perhaps this guy was depressed

As an American, I remember a few times on my first visits here, looking the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the road. It takes a while to break the habit of looking to the left first.

The driver stopped. called for assistance, and stayed at the scene.

1 hour ago, bunnydrops said:

As an American, I remember a few times on my first visits here, looking the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the road. It takes a while to break the habit of looking to the left first.

Had a similar experience in Philly. Nearly got hit on Broad street- looking in the wrong direction, being Australian, Easy mistake to make.

6 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

The driver stopped. called for assistance, and stayed at the scene.

The big exception in Thailand? Definitely not always common!

1 hour ago, bunnydrops said:

As an American, I remember a few times on my first visits here, looking the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the road. It takes a while to break the habit of looking to the left first.

Yep, as the great safety expert Loudon Wainwright III put it in his cautionary tale

"Crossin' the highway late at night

He didn't look left and he didn't look right

He didn't see the station wagon car

Skunk got squashed and there you are

You got your dead skunk in the middle of the road

dead skunk in the middle of the road

dead skunk in the middle of the road

Stinkin' to high heaven."

A lesson for all of us.

Not to place blame or minimize the misfortune of the accident victim.

If things happened as the driver describes: dash cam hopefully!

Not to self: finally care to get a rear cam in addition.

58 minutes ago, BerndD said:

The big exception in Thailand? Definitely not always common!

Be fair, it was a lady driver. Plus, the broken windshield would have made driving just a tad difficult.

A troll post trolling about Trump has been removed.

This may be too late for him...

Ya, hamskied and looking the wrong way. Hoping ol boy pulls through.

Tragic but not surprising.

How is the street lighting in that area?

Was the victim dressed in all dark clothing?

Were the car’s headlights turned on?

Was the car speeding?

Was the driver or the pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs?

I spend a lot of time in Los Angeles where they have very strong pedestrian safety laws, and drivers are required to stop for pedestrian even if they're not in a crosswalk. Sometimes when I'm driving there, people will walk right out in front of my car without even looking and I have to slam on my brakes to avoid them. It is astonishing to me that they consider themselves to be safe just because it's Los Angeles, and they are crossing the street.

I was occasionally slow down and say "you're really taking a lot for granted" to them, because they could so easily have been mowed down. Perhaps some of these people are from an environment like that which tends to make people pretty soft when it comes to their own personal safety. None of those rules apply in Thailand.

You get the most polite and courteous Thai, but once they get behind the wheel of a car everything changes.

3 hours ago, BerndD said:

The big exception in Thailand? Definitely not always common!

Ok, let´s say like this. How many car accidents do you have in Thailand every day? How many do you really read about in the news? So, what are you basing your, out of the air statement on?

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Crossing the Sukhumvit in day light is a suicide run.

Early hours, Alcohol and Thai chicks. 🤔

Perhaps this guy was depressed

Do planes fly out after 1.45am? If so that must piss off the locals that live there. I really do hope they find CCTV footage on the crossing area to prove if she is lying or not.

8 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

As an American, I remember a few times on my first visits here, looking the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the road. It takes a while to break the habit of looking to the left first.

I often forget when travelling from Vietnam/Cambodia to Thailand or back, thinking why is that idiot driving on the wrong side of the road, then realizing that I am the idiot.

8 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

As an American, I remember a few times on my first visits here, looking the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the road. It takes a while to break the habit of looking to the left first.

However we were also taught to LOOK BOTH WAYS before crossing. Prayers for the poor gentleman.

Post commenting on moderation removed. @BerndD you troll post was removed for flaming another poster.

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9 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

As an American, I remember a few times on my first visits here, looking the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the road. It takes a while to break the habit of looking to the left first.

An easy mistake to make- I am surprised I survived crossing the road during my many visits to New York

8 hours ago, BerndD said:

The big exception in Thailand? Definitely not always common!

Where did you pull that statistic from?

4 hours ago, Front Row said:

How is the street lighting in that area?

Looks to be very poor.

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

ago, Front Row said:

How is the street lighting in that area?

Looks to be very poor.

It actually appears to be well lit.

5 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

It actually appears to be well lit.

yeah it does hey................. Dumb question from Front Row, clearly did not bother reading the article.

9 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

As an American, I remember a few times on my first visits here, looking the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the road. It takes a while to break the habit of looking to the left first.

In Thailand it’s best to look both ways. Lots of Thais ignore the highway rules even driving on the pavement.

To any posters here casting aspersions as to the woman's driving and to Thais driving in general.

That is the entrance to an underground tunnel, bypassing the lights at Pattaya Klang. Cars are likely entering it at around 80km/hr. There is no crossing area. You can see the overhead signs and the black and white bollards separating the entrance of the tunnel and the road, in the distance.

It would be a very dangerous place for any car to try to stop for a pedestrian, unless the road was completely clear behind them.

51 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Where did you pull that statistic from?

No statistics are necessary for this. You just have to interpret my comment correctly and not read into it something that it doesn't say.

The first is a question. And the second is just an assumption that it's not always like that. And for that you want a statistic?

Apparently Liverpool Lou is also one of those who search in the crumbs out of sheer boredom.

I remember being taught as a child to ALWAYS look BOTH ways when crossing the road. That lesson has kept me alive until today, even in countries like Thailand.

Look left look right follow the green cross road.

It is a crying shame, not for me to say who's to blame

55 minutes ago, helloagain said:

Look left look right follow the green cross road.

It is a crying shame, not for me to say who's to blame

In this instance, the pedestrian holds 100% of the blame.