Chinese tourists escape serious injury in Karon minivan incident

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHOTOS: Nok Rai Rang / Newshawk Phuket

 

 

Four Chinese tourists and a minivan driver have escaped serious injury in an accident in Karon this morning.

 

The Karon Police were notified of the incident at a curve on Patak Road in front of Hilton Hotel entrance in Karon around 2.30am.

 

The Karon Police reported that the minivan driver, 25 year old Taweesak Hasa from Krabi, along with four Chinese tourists passengers, sustained minor injuries. The van flipped over during the incident.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/chinese-tourists-escape-serious-injury-in-karon-minivan-incident

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2018-11-05

 

"A police initial report speculates that the minivan driver was allegedly driving at high speed and lost control of his vehicle at the curve. They were heading from the Phuket International Airport to Sugar Marina Hotel in Kata. No alcohol found in the driver’s blood test."

 

At least it doesn't appear to be brake failure. There isn't a day goes by without a minivan 'accident.'

 

Nothing will improve with the new 21-seater minibuses, it will only result in more deaths per vehicle.

We all know the elite in charge of the country aren't interested in better education of the population, in order for them to use critical thinking and realise the real cause of these continual deaths.

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

...the minivan driver was allegedly driving at high speed and lost control of his vehicle at the curve...

 

He's survived to get into the record books another day. Hopefully, he won't take anyone else out with him.

Just now, Darcula said:

 

He's survived to get into the record books another day. Hopefully, he won't take anyone else out with him.

Don't you believe it Darcula. It's not going to come as a surprise to anyone if we read the driver has his licence suspended for a month and fined 2,000 Baht,

Then he will then be potentially licenced to kill. Absolutely no pun intended by me, for once.

The Chinese see all of these boat accidents, mini van accidents, drownings, thefts, assaults, bus accidents, that their fellow compatriots experience, no wonder they are deciding not to visit Thailand.  Absolutely nothing is being done to remedy any of it.  We can expect TAT to be on a permanent road show attempting to lure in tourists.  It's all falling apart~no enforcement, no systems in place, and no will to change

"No alcohol found in the driver’s blood test."

Comforting to know they can drive like drunken idiots even when sober....

Just another feel good news story for the Chinese media.  

10 hours ago, bluesofa said:

"A police initial report speculates that the minivan driver was allegedly driving at high speed and lost control of his vehicle at the curve. They were heading from the Phuket International Airport to Sugar Marina Hotel in Kata. No alcohol found in the driver’s blood test."

 

At least it doesn't appear to be brake failure. There isn't a day goes by without a minivan 'accident.'

 

Nothing will improve with the new 21-seater minibuses, it will only result in more deaths per vehicle.

We all know the elite in charge of the country aren't interested in better education of the population, in order for them to use critical thinking and realise the real cause of these continual deaths.

Killing larger numbers of Chinese tourists in larger vans won't go unnoticed by the Chinese government and tour ministries.  Thailand will continue to rack up sentiment as a unsafe tourist destination and Chinese arrivals will continue to fall off.

5 hours ago, Emster23 said:

"No alcohol found in the driver’s blood test."

Comforting to know they can drive like drunken idiots even when sober....

Most van drivers I've encountered are quite adept at suicidal driving while they are sober, although very obviously attempting to become 'dead sober', such as passing on blind corners, aggressive driving, and extremely excessive speeding. 

10 hours ago, bluesofa said:

It's not going to come as a surprise to anyone if we read the driver has his licence suspended for a month and fined 2,000 Baht,

And does anyone who understand how the traffic (non)-enforcement system actually works going to be surprised that virtually everyone with a 'suspended' license will simply continue to drive because if caught they will simply be subject to a 400 THB fine and given a receipt that they can present to other roadblocks and continue to drive unimpeded for the rest of the day.  Hell, the segment of the population that drives without licenses at all is huge.  All that matters is revenue collection.  Safety isn't even a consideration.  Traffic fatalities and injuries in themselves tells the story of the complete and utter failure of traffic enforcement in Thailand. 

13 hours ago, bluesofa said:

"A police initial report speculates that the minivan driver was allegedly driving at high speed and lost control of his vehicle at the curve. They were heading from the Phuket International Airport to Sugar Marina Hotel in Kata. No alcohol found in the driver’s blood test."

 

At least it doesn't appear to be brake failure. There isn't a day goes by without a minivan 'accident.'

 

Nothing will improve with the new 21-seater minibuses, it will only result in more deaths per vehicle.

We all know the elite in charge of the country aren't interested in better education of the population, in order for them to use critical thinking and realise the real cause of these continual deaths.

Well put Sof' .. And further to that the problem with death or mutilation by Minivan is a multi faceted one we feel .. Not only is there the Death Race 2000 manner in which they are driven but also driver eligibility , not to mention the road worthiness of some of them .. 

In Britland 9 seat's and over PSV's ( minibuses and stretched limo's up ) require the driver to have PSV eligibility on their license and must be over 21 and have held a full car license for at least 2 yrs prior .. Over here ? ..

Vehicle condition ? again Britland has quite stringent standards that buses inc' minibuses must meet besides the usual requirements other vehicles are subjected to , particularly the passenger compartment such as seatbelts , emergency-exit's , glass-breakability etc , .. Over here I've witnessed some quite shocking defects to tyres , lights , mirror's , suspension and on ..

A mandatory requirement to wear seatbelts on buses in Hengland now enforced by the operator under pain of being sanctioned thereselves by the licensing authorities for any transgressing passengers .. Never seen that here .. 

Factor in narco' , alcohol and Buddha take care influence and it all comes together to put Thailand at the summit of road casualties with a figure that would not look outta place in a war zone ..

What can be done ? A starter would be a fundamental shift in the culture of not accepting responsibility but that may call for dropping a bit of the superstitious hoodoo that I'm sure gives some of these minivan pilot's a feeling of invincibility .. Alternatively avoid 'em at all cost's like I do and let my bird be " Chauffeur " as she likes to call herself .. 

 

Strange that it took nearly a month for a blood test from a British Merc driver, who killed a Thai, but an almost instant one from a Thai mini bus driver, something fishy going on.. and I mean why so long to get the Brits test.... one can only guess.... Baht.

If this has gone viral on Chinese social media - oh dear TAT.