A wild elephant separated from its herd and collided with a motorcyclist in Khao Wongkot Subdistrict, narrowly missing a fatal attack before retreating into the forest. The incident occurred on February 22, 2025, and was captured on surveillance footage from a local grocery store.
According to eyewitness reports, the large male elephant, distinguished by its long tusks, was seen running through a durian orchard and across a village road, with dogs barking behind it. At the same time, a middle-aged man riding a motorcycle exited an alley and was unexpectedly struck by the elephant at an intersection. The impact caused the elephant to lose balance and fall momentarily. In response, the startled animal attempted to strike the motorcyclist with its tusks but missed before fleeing back into the forest.
Footage from a security camera at a grocery store owned by Ms. Usa captured the dramatic moment. The clip shows the elephant sprinting across the road before encountering the motorcyclist. Witnesses suggest that had the elephant reacted more aggressively, the outcome could have been fatal. The rider, visibly shaken, quickly got back on his feet, inspected his vehicle, and later sat outside the store in shock before departing.
Ms. Usa stated that wild elephants frequently emerge from the forest between 19:30 and 21:00. She recalled that on the night of February 20, a group of four elephants had been seen nearby, which was not unusual. However, on the morning of the incident, she heard loud trumpeting before noticing a distressed man, estimated to be in his 50s or 60s, parking his motorcycle in front of her store. Curious about what had happened, she reviewed her security footage and discovered the recorded event.
Ms. Kanchana, Ms. Usa’s twin sister, also recorded part of the incident and shared the clip online to alert residents and authorities. She reported that the elephant had emerged from a villager’s orchard around 07:00 before making its way onto the road.
Commenting on the footage, Mr. Santi Chuenphirom, vice chairman of the Khao Wongkot Subdistrict Administrative Organization Council, noted that the elephant did not appear to be acting aggressively. He suggested that the animal was likely trying to escape the village environment, possibly startled by barking dogs and the presence of people. He added that its attempt to use its tusks might have been an instinctive defensive reaction rather than an act of aggression.
