Pattaya Tragedy: Exhausted Motorbike Taxi Driver Found Dead in Apartment
Pattaya was rocked by a late-night tragedy on July 18 when a local motorbike taxi driver was discovered dead in his apartment. The heartbreaking discovery has shaken his community and left his wife in shock and mourning.
The body of 52-year-old Subin Boonpeng, a well-known and long-serving motorcycle taxi driver in Pattaya, was found around 1:06 a.m. in his small apartment on Soi Chalermphrakiat 13. The grim report reached the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit, who responded swiftly along with Pattaya City Police, led by Police Lieutenant Sakayaphap Chaidech.
Subin’s body was discovered lying lifeless on his bed in room B2 of a modest three-story apartment block. There were no signs of forced entry, foul play, or theft. Police at the scene estimated he had been dead for approximately three hours before being found.
Subin’s grieving wife, 42-year-old Kanjana Dondan, was inconsolable at the scene. Tearful and in visible shock, she told police that her husband had been working excessively long hours and was suffering from chronic exhaustion. He often worked late into the night, rarely sleeping well due to the nature of his physically demanding job.
According to Kanjana, she last spoke to her husband at around 9:00 p.m. on July 17. When he failed to return her calls or open the door to their apartment, she feared something was wrong. Acting on instinct, she climbed over the back wall of the apartment block and entered the room through a window—only to discover Subin cold and unresponsive.
“I had a bad feeling. He barely slept because of the job. I was worried when he didn’t answer,” Kanjana reportedly told officers in a state of emotional distress.
Emergency responders and investigators conducted a thorough sweep of the room and surrounding premises. No signs pointed to any external interference, and authorities have currently ruled out foul play.
Subin’s body was transferred to the Police General Hospital’s Forensic Institute in Bangkok, where an autopsy will determine the official cause of death. However, police suspect that underlying health issues, possibly exacerbated by stress, fatigue, and overwork, could have contributed to the tragedy.
Local officials took the opportunity to issue a reminder about the importance of self-care and regular health checkups—especially for those in high-stress or physically demanding professions such as motorbike taxi drivers.
“This is a somber reminder of the toll that relentless work can take on our bodies and minds,” said one Pattaya city official who requested anonymity. “We urge all workers to take care of themselves, get rest when needed, and seek medical attention when unwell.”
The tragic loss of Subin Boonpeng has touched a nerve in the Pattaya community, where motorbike taxi drivers are seen as essential to the daily flow of life, particularly for locals and tourists alike. Subin was reportedly a familiar and friendly face in the area.
As police continue their investigation, friends and neighbors have expressed their condolences to Kanjana and her family, many sharing that Subin was a hardworking and kind-hearted individual who always had a smile, even when tired.
Unsettling Coincidence: Two Foreigners Found Dead in Same Building
In a separate, eerie twist, Pattaya police are also investigating a puzzling incident involving the sudden deaths of two foreign men in the same condominium complex.
On the afternoon of July 17, just hours before Subin’s body was discovered, police were called to a condo behind the Tukcom shopping center in South Pattaya. There, a Swedish man was found dead in his fifth-floor unit.
Only two hours later, an Australian man was found dead on the seventh floor of the same building.
The back-to-back discoveries have prompted an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding both deaths. Police have not confirmed whether the incidents are linked or simply tragic coincidences. Autopsies are pending in both cases, and authorities have been working closely with embassies to notify next of kin and arrange proper procedures.
While the sudden deaths may not be criminal in nature, the series of incidents has raised community concerns. Residents are calling for increased mental health and wellness outreach to vulnerable groups, especially among the city’s large expat and tourist populations.
As the Pattaya community reels from a week marked by sudden and tragic losses, authorities stress the importance of looking out for one another and not ignoring signs of physical or emotional distress.
Final Thoughts
The loss of Subin Boonpeng serves as a tragic reminder of the human toll behind Pattaya’s bustling tourism and service economy. A hardworking man taken too soon, his story echoes that of countless others silently battling exhaustion while striving to support their families.
With community mourning underway and police investigations ongoing, the city of Pattaya faces a sobering moment—one that underscores the fragility of life and the need for compassion and care in the lives of those we often overlook.
