A 51-year-old Chinese tourist was killed and his adult daughter injured after their rented motorbike went off a bend and fell down a cliff on Koh Larn, near Pattaya, on August 6.

The crash happened at about 4pm on the downhill roadway from the island's wind turbine viewpoint. The victim's daughter, a Chinese woman aged about 30, was taken to Koh Larn Hospital after receiving first aid at the scene.

Motorcycle found below high cliff

Emergency services were alerted to the crash after reports that a motorcyclist had lost control on a curve and gone over the cliff edge on the road leading down from the viewpoint.

Rescuers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya City were sent to the scene, where they found a Honda Click 125 motorcycle below the cliff. The bike carried Bangkok registration.

The man who died was named as Wan Xuechun, 51, a Chinese national. He was found at the foot of the cliff and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Daughter taken to Koh Larn Hospital

Police said initial inquiries indicated that Wan and his daughter had rented the motorcycle and ridden up to the wind turbine viewpoint.

While travelling back down the hill, the rider reportedly lost control on a bend before plunging over the cliff. The father died at the scene, while his daughter was injured.

Rescue workers gave the woman initial treatment before taking her to Koh Larn Hospital. Her condition was not disclosed.

Police are continuing a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash. The rescue team was assigned to transfer Wan's body to hospital for safekeeping while relatives are contacted.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

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7 August 2026

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A crash barrier belatedly needed. Mind you, it took Pattaya a while to put a suitable one on the motorway entrance ramp, and a few deaths!

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

motorcycle had lost control on a curve and

No, not the motor bike but the driver.

Police should check the brakes!

Perhaps some restrictions should be put into place for bike rentals? Most who rent them have no skills, and little experience riding. It is a formula for disaster. Nobody expects to return from a vacation in a wooden box.

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Perhaps some restrictions should be put into place for bike rentals? Most who rent them have no skills, and little experience riding. It is a formula for disaster. Nobody expects to return from a vacation in a wooden box.

Boy that comment has been made quite a few times.

I think a car licence lets you rent anything here... nobody ever showed much interest in my M/C endorsement when I used to rent here.

This is exactly what can happen when you rent a bike to anyone, with or without experience, just to make a few baht. I guess tourists don’t read the news or just think they can wing it. This is not the place to do that.

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

A crash barrier belatedly needed. Mind you, it took Pattaya a while to put a suitable one on the motorway entrance ramp, and a few deaths!

Looking at the photo where the two men are standing there appears to be a natural sand bank barrier. While I agree with you that there should be "motorway entrance ramps" I do not like the idea of destroying countryside paths with ugly ramps to accomodate joy riding motorcyclists

If riding a motorbike, only do so if you have many years of experience. Especially on the southern islands, where huge numbers of foreigners leave Thailand in a wooden box. Wear the best helmet you can afford. And drive like a grandmother. This applies to ex-pats too. Bring along an international drivers license. This helps you to avoid being fleeced by the local police franchisee.

Many of us drive motorcycles or scooters here, and it is dangerous getting on the roads with some of these other drivers. Getting on a scooter, or a motorcycle anywhere in Thailand, much less Phuket, Phangan, Dark Tao, or Samui without a very good helmet, is like playing Russian Roulette with three or four bullets in the chamber. It is absolutely asking for problems. The degree of recklessness here is astounding. And many foreigners come here thinking "how much trouble could I get in on a little scooter, on a tropical island"? Well, the answer is alot. The amount of foreigners who are killed on the Southern islands is staggering. Most are not reported in the media. I had a friend who worked for Samui rescue for many years, and said the numbers were about 30-60 a month, on Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao. The official number is about 3 a month. Rider beware. Use as good a helmet as you can afford, and do not use these eggshells pieces of crap. They crack at the first impact, and what lies underneath them? Your skull, which is very delicate.

Riding a bike here is very dangerous. If not the highest, one of the highest fatality rates in the world. And an accident here can be very costly, to your person. Just ask yourself- do I have enough problems already, without a broken skull, or smashed head, or face injury, or lost eye?

I have three friends who have been in motorbike accidents on Samui. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. The third one is a close friend, who was hit by a sidecar, and nearly lost his leg. 11 operations later, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg caused him constant problems, many years later. 

There have been some comments about the need to put up crash barriers and the police checking the brakes. While all comments may have some merit I think what is missing in this article is whether the motorcyclists were wearing helmets or did the motorbike rider have a license in his own country to ride a bike. If the answer is "no" to either of the questions then the motorbike should take resposibility for his demise.

Edited August 7Aug 7 by riverhigh

I've rented motorbikes on Koh Larn dozens of times, and have been on that pathway. It's incredibly steep and dangerous. I fell once and have the scar on my arm to prove it, and helped a Chinese girl get out from under her motorcycle after falling on that trail.

I've never seen a motorcycle rental shop offer helmets, and don't think I've ever seen a motorcycle rider wearing a helmet on Koh Larn. They also don't check licenses. We once rented motorbikes on Koh Larn for our 13 and 14 year old nephews without a problem. Fortunately they were better at handling a motorcycle than me

Edited August 7Aug 7 by ftpjtm

23 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Perhaps some restrictions should be put into place for bike rentals? Most who rent them have no skills, and little experience riding. It is a formula for disaster. Nobody expects to return from a vacation in a wooden box.

Agree in principle but there are economic and Thai cultural considerations. Thai children are allowed to ride motorbikes without licenses. The reason for this is that if not allowed to ride a motorbike they will not go to school.

24 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Boy that comment has been made quite a few times.

I think a car licence lets you rent anything here... nobody ever showed much interest in my M/C endorsement when I used to rent here.

No you are supposed to have a bike license and a International Drivers permit but most renters will give you a bike without any license. Definitely won't be covered by any insurance.

6 minutes ago, golli said:

No you are supposed to have a bike license and a International Drivers permit but most renters will give you a bike without any license. Definitely won't be covered by any insurance.

Doesn't look like much of a road. More a cobbled sidewalk. Why was he riding a scooter on a footpath. Wet cobblestones and scooters don't mix?

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35 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Boy that comment has been made quite a few times.

I think a car licence lets you rent anything here... nobody ever showed much interest in my M/C endorsement when I used to rent here.

For clarification purposes:

" A motorcycle endorsement is an official notation added to your driver’s license that legally allows you to operate a motorcycle on public roads. It proves you’ve met the state’s requirements for motorcycle training, testing, and safety. In this guide, we’ll explain what a motorcycle endorsement is, how to get one, and why it’s essential for every rider"

While this endorsement may mean a lot to you as an American, please keep in mind that you are riding a motorbike in Thailand and that Thai officials may not be aware of this particular state requirement. Just saying.

Its always the same reasons coming up when there is a motor bike incident

Blame the Vendor or the person involved does not have a licence

Or not wearing a helmet driving to fast

The Thai authorities need to start enforcing stricter rules on people riding motor bikes

What a tragedy for the victim and his entire family

RIP

Scoot rental joint will want new for old replacement.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Perhaps some restrictions should be put into place for bike rentals? Most who rent them have no skills, and little experience riding. It is a formula for disaster. Nobody expects to return from a vacation in a wooden box.

I very much doubt that it was a rental. The bike carried Bangkok registration.

19 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Scoot rental joint will want new for old replacement.

1 hour ago, jcmj said:

This is exactly what can happen when you rent a bike to anyone, with or without experience, just to make a few baht. I guess tourists don’t read the news or just think they can wing it. This is not the place to do that.

Why do you think it was a rental? The bike carried Bangkok registration.

4 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Why do you think it was a rental? The bike carried Bangkok registration.

The heading of the report, Barry.

"injured after their rented motorbike"

2 hours ago, jcmj said:

This is exactly what can happen when you rent a bike to anyone, with or without experience, just to make a few baht. I guess tourists don’t read the news or just think they can wing it. This is not the place to do that.

Not just Thailand. In Bermuda, non-residents are not allowed to rent cars, only motorbikes. It's a popular honeymoon destination and every year a litany of stories about newly-weds dying in motorbike accidents on the islands curvy roads.

So touchy is the issue that the Bermudian Govt. classifies road death stats as State secrets.

Post breaking forum rules removed.

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1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Why do you think it was a rental? The bike carried Bangkok registration.

Your eyes painted on ?

35 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Your eyes painted on ?

No mate. Maybe you can tell me if it's legal to rent a motorbike with Bangkok plates on Koh Larn. Whatda' think?

I have a vision (no pun intended) of the daughter playfully cupping her hands over the father's eyes as he entered the curve.

35 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

No mate. Maybe you can tell me if it's legal to rent a motorbike with Bangkok plates on Koh Larn. Whatda' think?

Yeah, nah I cannot tell you.

Best you call the police or land transport department.

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Perhaps some restrictions should be put into place for bike rentals? Most who rent them have no skills, and little experience riding. It is a formula for disaster. Nobody expects to return from a vacation in a wooden box.

Why not have 50cc bikes available in Thailand for all the tourists? Nobody with common sense in that country to jump into that gap which could be a big commercial hit! No issues with insurance and licenses. No issues with speeds they can't handle.

4 hours ago, riverhigh said:

For clarification purposes:

" A motorcycle endorsement is an official notation added to your driver’s license that legally allows you to operate a motorcycle on public roads. It proves you’ve met the state’s requirements for motorcycle training, testing, and safety. In this guide, we’ll explain what a motorcycle endorsement is, how to get one, and why it’s essential for every rider"

While this endorsement may mean a lot to you as an American, please keep in mind that you are riding a motorbike in Thailand and that Thai officials may not be aware of this particular state requirement. Just saying.

That is similar in UK but I always thought that in Thailand there were separate licences for cars and motorcycles - is that not the case? I certainly recall friends who had 2 Thai licences for that reason I thought.

My point is, that If that is the case, one would think that a renter would know to look for a correct licence or some sort of endorsement on the licence submitted.

(Example, in UK, all licences look the same, but there are specific categories notated - these categories cover all motorised vehicles and you're either licensed or you're not.

Here's a screenshot of mine showing that I am licensed to drive mopeds, cars and light vans only. Of course, I'm not sure if these are UK only or international.

Edited August 7Aug 7 by VBF

5 hours ago, ftpjtm said:

I've rented motorbikes on Koh Larn dozens of times, and have been on that pathway. It's incredibly steep and dangerous. I fell once and have the scar on my arm to prove it, and helped a Chinese girl get out from under her motorcycle after falling on that trail.

I've never seen a motorcycle rental shop offer helmets, and don't think I've ever seen a motorcycle rider wearing a helmet on Koh Larn. They also don't check licenses. We once rented motorbikes on Koh Larn for our 13 and 14 year old nephews without a problem. Fortunately they were better at handling a motorcycle than me

I don't normally ride a motorcycle but I did wonder about the the road in question. If it is steep could the brakes have faded? Also, given what some roads are like in Thailand, is it littered with bumps and potholes? On the roads it's bad enough for cars, but for bikes the risk of being thrown off is much greater if avoidance isn't possible.

I've been driving a car long enough to know how to deal with long descents in either a manual or automatic. The only time I've ridden bikes is on the flat so I don't know what sort of engine braking there is.