A Bangkok passenger suffered serious injuries after falling from a bridge when her motorcycle taxi driver fell asleep while navigating the road, authorities said. The incident occurred at approximately 7 a.m. on August 25 at the Ratchayothin Intersection in the Chatuchak district, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Footage of the accident, shared on TikTok by user @rnatpakan, captured the moment the woman plunged from the bridge, landing on the roof of a passing sedan and shattering its windscreen. Witnesses reported that the motorcycle struck the bridge railing, causing the passenger to fall while the driver remained on the bike with minor injuries.
Nearby motorcycle taxi rider Kai, 46, told Channel 7 that he had rushed to the scene after learning of the crash. “The passenger was seriously hurt, and the driver admitted he had fallen asleep while driving,” he said. Emergency responders transported the woman, later identified as 27-year-old Lwin Lwin Aye, a Burmese national, to Paolo Kaset Hospital. She was conscious upon arrival, and medical staff have provided intensive care; her current condition has not been publicly updated.
Police identified the driver as Thanaphat, who acknowledged that he dozed off while operating the motorcycle. He has been charged under Section 390 of the Thai Criminal Code for committing a reckless act causing injury to another person. The offence carries a potential penalty of up to one month in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both. Authorities noted that if the passenger’s condition worsens, more serious charges may be pursued.
Similar incidents have occurred in Thailand in recent months. In April, a Thai woman in Pathum Thani province narrowly survived after her car plunged from a five-metre-high bridge, while last December, a woman in Samut Prakan sustained injuries after falling from a pedestrian bridge while attempting to retrieve a dropped mobile phone. Authorities have urged app-based drivers and passengers to exercise caution and remain vigilant while on the road.