Assistant village head found dead in submerged car after 3 days

The body of a newly-appointed assistant village headman was discovered in a submerged car after three days of searching in a turbulent stream. The search efforts were hampered by heavy rain and strong water currents.

Yesterday, August 20, at 7.30pm, the media reported on the ongoing search for a sedan and its driver that had plunged into the Jun stream (Lam Huai Jun) following a collision at a bridge in Ban Hua Khua, Village No. 7, Huai Yang Kham subdistrict. The incident occurred on August 18 at 4am.

Family members, local administrative officials, police, and rescue teams from various organisations, including the Central Phitak Chiwit Rescue Association of Phayao, Luecha Phayao Foundation, Guan Yu Rescue, and Norasingh Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, mobilised equipment, boats, divers, and a backhoe for an extensive search that lasted day and night for three consecutive days.

On August 20 at 2pm, Sirinuch Jantaphoon, Chief District Officer of Jun, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Paphat Kaokham, Deputy Inspector of Jun Police Station, along with other officials, continued the search operation. They utilised a backhoe provided by Anurat Tanbanchong, an MP from Phayao district 2, and Phairat Tanbanchong, a former head of Phayao Provincial Administrative Organisation, to aid in the excavation efforts.

The vehicle was eventually located at the bridge pier. The rescue team used the backhoe and diving team to secure the car with steel ropes and pull it from the stream.

The white Toyota sedan with the license plate number กน 31 Chiang Rai was found with 43 year old Narongdet, the assistant village headman of Village No. 4, Huai Yang Kham Nuea subdistrict, Jun District, Phayao province, dead inside.

The vehicle and the body were retrieved at 7.10pm, and the Central Phitak Chiwit Rescue Association of Phayao transported the body to Phayao Hospital for an autopsy, reported KhaoSod.

The search was particularly challenging due to the continuous heavy rain and strong water currents, which made it difficult to locate the submerged vehicle for three days.

According to family members, Narongdet, who had recently been appointed as assistant village headman, might have experienced a sudden health issue, leading to the accident. The exact cause of death will be determined after a forensic examination at Phayao Hospital.