Chiang Mai, Thailand— A motorcyclist was killed Tuesday morning in a head-on collision with an SUV on Highway 118 near Doi Saket, 20 kilometers northeast of Chiang Mai city, after attempting to overtake a truck.
The crash happened at 7:45 a.m. on a two-lane stretch with faded center markings. Police said the motorcycle, a 150cc Honda, moved into the oncoming lane to pass a slow pickup, then met a Toyota Fortuner traveling toward Chiang Mai. Impact was head-on.
The rider, a 27-year-old man from Chiang Rai, was thrown 15 meters and died instantly. He was not wearing a full-face helmet, only a half-shell that came off on impact. The SUV driver, a 45-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries and shock.
"I saw the bike come out behind the truck. The SUV honked. Then a loud crash. The bike was under the front," said a roadside fruit vendor who called rescue.
Rescue volunteers from the Charoen Muang foundation covered the body and diverted traffic with cones. The SUV’s front end was crushed, airbags deployed. The motorcycle was broken in two.
Highway police measured skid marks showing the SUV braked hard but had less than 30 meters to stop. They collected helmet fragments and a broken side mirror for evidence.
"The rider misjudged distance. Overtaking on a rise is common here. We see this daily," Lt. Col. Somchai Rattanapong of Doi Saket Police said. He said alcohol tests on both drivers were negative.
Chiang Mai province records one of Thailand’s highest motorcycle fatality rates. Head-on crashes during overtaking account for nearly a quarter of deaths on rural highways.
The victim’s family was notified. The body was taken to Maharaj Nakorn Hospital for autopsy. The SUV driver was taken for questioning and released pending further inquiry.
Police will forward the case to prosecutors after reviewing dashcam footage from the SUV and a following vehicle.
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