A courageous woman saw a corn-loading backhoe about to reverse into her friend and quickly pushed her to safety, but was herself run over and killed. Friends revealed her words were a premonition. Her husband and son embraced each other in tears.
At 14:30 on 12 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Lt. Wuttichai Churatnasuphanon, duty investigating officer at the local police station, received a report from the Phrae Provincial Administrative Organization's 1669 emergency hotline of a person run over inside an agricultural produce shop in Mae Lai Subdistrict, Mueang Phrae District. Authorities coordinated with Muang Chai rescue workers, Mae Lai municipal rescue, and Phrae Hospital doctors to investigate.
At the scene inside a corn seed storage shed, the body of Ms. Wijitra Phromrin, 33, from Rong Kwang District, Phrae Province, was found dead beside a pile of corn. She wore a long-sleeve blue-gray shirt and black pants. She had a broken neck and arm, and a fractured skull. Nearby was the parked corn-loading backhoe. Coworkers were crying and mourning the incident.
Mrs. Bualong, 62, said she was sweeping corn husks behind the backhoe when Ms. Wijitra suddenly shouted “Mae Long” and jumped to push her onto the pile of corn, just before the backhoe reversed and ran over Ms. Wijitra, who died. Mrs. Bualong and coworkers were shocked. That morning, the deceased had ominously said she had ordered several sets of pajamas and this time she would finally sleep well, before this tragic event occurred.
Mr. Sataya Sanya, 33, husband of the deceased, hugged their son while crying and said they have two children, both off school that day due to illness. The younger was left with a caretaker, and the elder was brought to work. His wife had recently returned to work after a 2-3 month break caring for the children. He was working nearby when he learned of her being run over while helping a coworker. He felt sorrow she did not jump onto the corn pile with her friend, as she was almost safe, but he was proud of her bravery in saving her coworker, who has a leg disability.
The investigating officers, together with doctors from Phrae Hospital, conducted a forensic autopsy, questioned the backhoe driver, and documented the scene as evidence to proceed with legal action.