Phumjai Chaiya, a red-shirt network leader in Chiang Mai known as DJ Tom, died from his injuries after he crashed riding a big bike on a curve in Phrae province on Wednesday night.
Pol Lt Col Sukiart Thuethong, investigator at Long district police station, said Phumjai, a leading member of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 red-shirt group, suffered a severe bone fracture to his right leg and bled to death before help arrived.
His Honda "chopper" crashed into a roadside concrete pole on a curve at kilometre maker 67-68 on Highway 11 from Denchai-Lampang in Long district of Phrae on Wednesday night, Manager Online reported on Thursday.
He suffered a serious fracture and apparently he could not move to seek help, police said. The crash scene was isolate and nobody saw him.
A doctor concluded he suffered massive blood loss before he died. He was able to help himself only by moving his bag to support his head. He was found dead by the roadside.
His wife Nok Chaiya rushed to the scene after being contacted by police. She had no suspicions about the cause of his death.
His body was to be taken from Long Hospital by noon on Thursday for funeral rites at Wat Tonpin in tambon Mae Hia, in Muang district of Chiang Mai.
Phumjai had played a key role in the red-shirt movement in the North.