PATTAYA — Two Arab tourists were critically injured early Saturday morning after crashing into each other while racing motorcycles on a major highway in Pattaya, Thailand.
The accident occurred at 3 a.m. on August 30th on Sukhumvit Road heading toward Sattahip, opposite Central Festival Pattaya Beach mall in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.
Pattaya Rescue Center emergency responders found a white Yamaha Spark motorcycle overturned on the roadside with an injured Middle Eastern tourist. About 100 meters away, they discovered a severely damaged black Honda CBR 650R big bike with another Middle Eastern tourist in critical condition, struggling to breathe.
Emergency medical personnel provided first aid to both victims before rushing them to the hospital. Two other tourists sustained minor injuries in the incident. A group of approximately 10 friends had stopped their motorcycles nearby, visibly shaken as they checked on the injured riders.
Witness Jakpong Wongin, 37, a Thai national, told investigators he had just left a traffic light when he saw the big bike and a group of Arab tourists racing their motorcycles in a crouched racing position at high speed. As he was reaching for his phone to record a video, the big bike suddenly slammed into the rear of his countryman’s motorcycle, sending both riders sliding in opposite directions. He immediately called emergency services.
Pattaya Police Station investigators confirmed that CCTV cameras clearly captured the incident. The footage shows the first motorcycle riding in the right lane while the big bike approached at high speed before rear-ending it, causing both riders to lose control and slide across the pavement. Police will use this evidence to pursue legal action.
The crash comes amid ongoing complaints from local residents about Middle Eastern tourists causing disturbances with reckless motorcycle riding throughout the city. Despite continuous reports, authorities have only been able to address the problem on a case-by-case basis.
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