An education supervisor driving a pickup truck crashed into a motorcycle in front of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion camp, causing the death of Sergeant Khem, a border combat soldier who had served in two combat zones. Locals revealed he had plans to marry soon. The driver claimed he was startled, abandoned the vehicle, fled, then later surrendered to police.
At 9:30 p.m. on 22 June 2026, Lieutenant Colonel Chanti Wannupatham, investigation officer at Mueang Buriram Police Station, received a report of a car colliding with a motorcycle in front of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion camp. Rescue units from Buriram Sawang Janya Tham were dispatched to the scene.
The incident occurred on the Buriram–Pakorn Chai road in front of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion camp, Samet Subdistrict, Mueang Buriram District, Buriram Province. A black Honda motorcycle, registered in Surin Province, was found toppled beside the road, damaged. Approximately 30 meters from the camp’s front gate on the median strip lay the body of Sergeant Napatsakorn Somtirum, or Sergeant Khem, aged 36, a soldier assigned to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion. He was face down, wearing a military T-shirt and shorts, with a deformed leg. Nearby, a vehicle license plate bearing Buriram registration BTH 5127 was found on the ground.
Authorities later found a black Toyota Vigo pickup truck with license plate BTH 5127 Buriram, matching the plate found at the scene. The vehicle’s front was severely damaged, apparently trying to flee but unable to continue driving.
Reviewing footage from two CCTV cameras showed Sergeant Khem riding the motorcycle out of the camp, attempting to cross the four-lane road. Suddenly, the pickup truck sped toward him and struck him violently, causing him to be thrown.
Ms. Wipharat Pengpansi, 43, a witness, said the accident happened in front of her home. She didn’t initially know who had been hit but rushed out upon hearing the crash and recognized it was Sergeant Khem, well known locally as a soldier who had fought in Cambodia twice.
Sergeant Khem was known as a kind person who often greeted locals outside the camp. It was regrettable that despite serving twice at the border, he survived those conflicts only to die in this accident. Reports said Sergeant Khem had plans to marry his girlfriend soon.
Subsequently, the pickup truck driver came forward to surrender. His name was later revealed as Mr. Tatsawin (surname withheld), a senior education supervisor affiliated with the Buriram Secondary Educational Service Area Office.
Mr. Tatsawin told Police Colonel Jamrat Siriliang, superintendent of Mueang Buriram Police Station, that he did not intend to flee but was startled and drove away. After regaining composure, he returned to surrender. Alcohol testing showed normal results, indicating no alcohol consumption before the accident.
Initially, police charged the driver with reckless driving causing death and hit-and-run (failing to stop to assist or identify himself), proceeding with legal action accordingly.