Pattaya, Thailand – January 1st, 2026
A 28-year-old Russian tourist was killed and his companion injured in a high-speed motorcycle accident on New Year’s Day, marking the first road fatality of the year at a stretch of road infamous among locals as the “deadly curve”.
The crash occurred at approximately 8:50 a.m. on Jomtien Second Road.
Police and rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation responded to reports of a motorcycle rider veering off the road and colliding with a tree on the central median.
At the scene, authorities found a heavily damaged green Yamaha Aerox scooter, registration 3 กฬ 4022 Chonburi, overturned on the median with debris scattered across the area. A tree on the divider had been struck with such force that its trunk was split.
The deceased was publicly identified as Mr. Zubairu Zalkepov, 28, a Russian national. He suffered severe facial lacerations, a fractured skull, and massive bleeding, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His passenger, identified only as Mr. Nikolai, 27, also Russian, sustained non-life threatening abrasions and was rushed to Jomtien Hospital for treatment before authorities arrived.
A security guard from a nearby condominium, Mr. Sekson Buangam, 35, told investigators he heard the impact and rushed to the site. He saw the two men on the ground after the scooter lost control and hit the median unaided. One was unconscious, while the other, Mr. Nikolai, sat in shock watching his friend. Rescue workers arrived shortly after but could only confirm the death of Mr. Zalkepov.
Preliminary investigations suggest the pair were traveling at high speed when they failed to navigate the sharp curve, causing the scooter to skid and slam into the tree.
This section of Jomtien Second Road has a grim reputation for similar accidents, with locals reporting over 10 accidents at this curve in the past year alone. In one particular story that went viral an American man and his girlfriend were killed in a similar accident at nearly the same spot in October. Some local residents suggest putting more signs and speed bumps in the area to force people to slow down and use more caution.
Police are continuing their investigation and have urged motorists to exercise caution, particularly on hazardous bends.
