Nonthaburi: The investigation into the eighth body discovered in the aftermath of the train-bus collision is making progress, as new information suggests a connection to a missing man from Nonthaburi province. The man, identified as Mr. Sermlap Pinthong, has not been seen since the tragic incident.
According to Thai News Agency, images shared online of a man sitting in the bus that was struck by a train on May 16th have been compared to CCTV footage of Mr. Sermlap. The footage shows him walking past a grocery store in Soi Tiwanon 37, Intersection 2/1, in Mueang Nonthaburi District. The possibility that the two images depict the same person has been raised, especially since Mr. Sermlap failed to return home after the collision.
Reporters visiting Soi Tiwanon 37, Intersection 2/1, spoke with local residents who confirmed that Mr. Sermlap had been living alone for over a decade following the deaths of his parents and younger brother. Neighbors were unaware of his departure on the day of the incident, initially assuming he had gone to work. Concern arose when a colleague visited his home, noting his absence from work, which was unusual for him. Community members mobilized to search for Mr. Sermlap and shared missing person notices on social media, but no trace of him was found. Some suspected he might have been involved in the train-bus collision.
In an effort to locate Mr. Sermlap, his workplace requested to view CCTV footage from a nearby shop, which captured him wearing a black shirt, backpack, and sandals on May 16th, resembling the individual seen in the collision.
On May 20, 2026, a colleague reported Mr. Sermlap's disappearance to Makkasan Police Station. Police investigated his residence and correlated his last known whereabouts with a photograph taken by a passenger on the day of the collision, which was dated May 21, 2026. Authorities contacted Mr. Sermlap's family and located a relative, Mr. Pairat, in Chonburi province. Mr. Pairat provided a DNA sample for comparison with evidence collected from the collision site. The results of the forensic analysis are awaited as the investigation continues.