Hong Kong sergeant dies falling from truck in South Pattaya

A Hong Kong police sergeant tragically died after falling from a songthaew open-air truck in South Pattaya, Chon Buri, yesterday morning.

Surveillance footage showed the man tumbling from the back of the taxi van onto the road at 8:36am, July 22. The 48 year old man from Hong Kong suffered severe injuries and was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later declared dead, as reported by local media.

A source confirmed that the deceased was a police sergeant. Witnesses reportedly shouted at the songthaew to stop following the incident, but the driver continued to drive away from the scene.

Police used security camera footage to obtain the vehicle’s plate number and launched an immediate search for the driver. The driver eventually surrendered later in the day, claiming ignorance about the fall. He stated he only learned about the incident after being informed by the vehicle’s owner.

The source further mentioned that the sergeant was on holiday with his family and was scheduled to return to Hong Kong today. He had left his hotel alone before boarding the songthaew.

Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced that it had been informed about the incident by the man’s family. They contacted Beijing’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong and the Chinese embassy in Thailand to gather more information about the situation.

The department also stated that it had provided necessary advice and assistance according to the family’s wishes, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news last month, a blue songthaew taxi travelling at high speed caused a female student to fall off the vehicle, resulting in injuries. The driver claimed that the student jumped off the vehicle herself, while a witness reported that the driver did not immediately assist the injured girl.

A CCTV camera captured the incident on Rattanarat Road, near Bang Bo intersection in Samut Prakan. The footage showed the blue songthaew making a sharp left turn that caused the standing student at the back to lose her balance and fall onto the road. Fortunately, a car following behind was able to brake in time, preventing a potentially more serious accident.