Sergeant Pakawat Kaewkhiao, head of the traffic unit at Pathum Thani City Police Station, died by suicide inside the booth at Pathumwilai intersection. His wife said she could not reach him all night, searched for him, and then discovered his death. Debt-related stress is suspected as the cause of death.Tags: [suicide, police, debt stress, Pathum Thani, local news]
At 06:10 on 16 June 2026, Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaiphat Areewong, investigation officer at Pathum Thani City Police Station, received a report from Sergeant Natthaphon Kongjitkla, head of the traffic unit, that an officer had committed suicide inside the traffic signal control booth at Pathumwilai intersection, Bang Prok Subdistrict, Mueang District, Pathum Thani. Upon receiving the report, they informed superiors and traveled to the scene with Police Colonel Wiwat Asawawiboon, chief of Pathum Thani City Police Station, Deputy Chiefs Kasem Srichantrin and Weera Nuchsin, and officers from the investigation and volunteer rescue teams.
At the scene inside the traffic signal control room, the deceased was identified as Sergeant Pakawat Kaewkhiao, also known as Sergeant Keng, 26, head of the traffic unit at Pathum Thani City Police Station (code Mueang Pathum 6023). The body showed a single gunshot wound to the right temple. He was seated on a sofa holding a 9mm handgun in his right hand. Authorities contacted the forensic team (Pathum Thani Forensic Unit 1) to examine and photograph the scene for evidence and to conduct a thorough investigation.
Sergeant Natthaphon Kongjitkla, the first to discover the body, said that before finding the body at dawn, the traffic team conducted their morning lineup, but Sergeant Pakawat did not show up. Attempts to contact him via radio and phone failed. After the lineup, he drove to the traffic control booth at Pathumwilai intersection and found Sergeant Pakawat's motorcycle parked by the door, which was locked. After knocking with no response, he peeked through the window and saw Sergeant Pakawat lying motionless on the sofa. He immediately alerted rescue personnel and forced entry, discovering that he was deceased.
Later, Miss Chonpicha, 20, the wife, arrived at the scene and said that around 8 p.m., Sergeant Pakawat came home but did not speak. Since 10 p.m., she tried calling him without success and searched for him until about 2 a.m. but could not find him. She then inquired at Pathum Thani City Police Station, but no one had seen him. This morning, she learned from friends that her husband had died. She believed the cause was personal problems, including heavy debts and recent family disputes over land sales. He had previously attempted self-harm several times, which she tried to prevent until this incident occurred.
Police Colonel Wiwat Asawawiboon, chief of Pathum Thani City Police Station, said Sergeant Pakawat had been working there for about four years. He was a responsible and diligent officer, often directing students safely across roads near the area, earning praise from Pathumwilai School. The incident was unexpected as he had not disclosed any problems, though his expression had been tense for two to three days. He worked the previous night at the traffic booth. His wife had searched for him all night. This morning, during the routine traffic lineup, officers noticed the traffic control booth's air conditioning was on and Sergeant Pakawat's motorcycle was parked outside. Upon inspection, they found him deceased.
The initial motive is believed to be debt problems and family disputes concerning land transactions within the family. Authorities will conduct a thorough investigation and detailed scene examination. The body was handed over to the Ruamkatanyu Foundation for transport to the Forensic Science Institute, Ministry of Justice, for autopsy to confirm the cause of death before being returned to relatives for funeral rites according to religious customs.