13 tourists injured in van’s plunge into Doi Ang Khang ravine

By Thai PBS

 

 

Thirteen Thai tourists were injured, four of them in serious condition, after a passenger van in which they were travelling on the way back from Doi Ang Khang, Fang district of Chiang Mai, skidded out of the narrow road and plunged into a deep ravine on New Year’s Day.

 

Fang district officials, military personnel and rescue workers rushed to the scene of the accident in Ban Khom Dong, Tambon Monpin. They found the van rest at the bottom of the ravine about 140 metres from the road.

 

All the injured were rescued and rushed to Fang district hospital for emergency treatment.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/13-tourists-injured-vans-plunge-doi-ang-khang-ravine/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS Full story:

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

skidded out of the narrow road and plunged into a deep ravine

Yeah, It´s terrible with all these narrow roads! I guess it takes an educated driver to stay out of the ravine.

Anyone who has driven that road knows it's a seriously nasty place to drive, accidents will happen and they will happen there.

13 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

Anyone who has driven that road knows it's a seriously nasty place to drive, accidents will happen and they will happen there.

Can't disagree with you there but there would be less accidents if the drivers know how to drive under different conditions not just on straight dry speedways !

The road is not a dual carriageway,and it's not a narrow road either,

if you drive too fast for the conditions,there's going to be accidents,

bends seem to catch a lot of Thai drivers out,too fast into them.

 

There is always an excuse given for bad driving,narrow road,wet road,

too dark,and the famous ,brake failure.

regards Worgeordie

The road that's being described above is one of the worst I've driven in Thailand, it is very narrow, it is steep in places with lots of turns and it sees a lot of traffic in both directions and it goes on forever - this potentially is not a run of the mill incompetent driver story, the road is seriously not good.

Whilst I agree with the comments re the competence of many Thai drivers in general, this particular road has serious challenges. Until recent years it was closed to all but authorised drivers. Buses are still not allowed to travel up there. Most Thai visitors. even those driving their own vehicles,.change to a special fleet of Songthaews near the bottom of the climb, Yesterday there were periods of rain, making the descent particularly hazardous.

 

Knowing the road very well I have to say that the number of accidents is actually surprisingly low and no different to what I would expect on such a road in Australia.

On 11/30/2017 at 5:38 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

Tub Tao was great but I don't recall any resorts there.

I recommend Chang Dao. Several resorts of varying prices there.

If wanting to go far, Riverside Resort in Thaton is the cheese.

Other side of main road and a bit south of turnoff to MHS is a lake with floating rooms- forget name.

 

This is not true. There are resorts around Chai Prakarn - not too far from the caves. 

10 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

Anyone who has driven that road knows it's a seriously nasty place to drive, accidents will happen and they will happen there.

 

Nasty? I have to respectfully disagree. You can't have straight highway all the time.

It is one of the most beautiful and scenic roads in north of Thailand and pleasure to ride or drive.

 

 

10 hours ago, tracker1 said:

Can't disagree with you there but there would be less accidents if the drivers know how to drive under different conditions not just on straight dry speedways !

Not on those either. I live on a long straight road and there have been 16 accidents, some involving death and lost limbs, within 500 metres of my house in the last two years. Only 13 if you discount three in one morning last week because it had rained.

15 hours ago, webfact said:

All the injured were rescued and rushed to Fang district hospital for emergency treatment.

Hope they survive Fang hospital, many don't.

 

All the usual reports on the road and conditions and Thai drivers and they are all valid.  I would add one.  On many of the mountainous roads in the north there are some really bad "anti" cambers.  Whether they come from subsidence or just bad road building they can (and do) catch many out when navigating bends in the road.  I drove those roads for over twelve years and even knowing them well, I was still caught out and had some hairy moments!