Tragic Accident On Pattaya Sukhumvit Road.............

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya City News: May 18th 2007

Two women dead after truck versus motorbike crash on the Sukumvit Road.

Police Sub-Lieutenant Prasit from Banglamung Police Station was called to the Jet Petrol Station on the Sukumvit Road in Lompok sub-district on Friday Morning to investigate a fatal road accident involving a motorbike and a truck.

Two women were killed in the crash, one at the scene and a second died from her injuries at Hospital. A third woman sustained serious injuries and her chances of survival are rated as 50-50.

The driver of the truck remained at the scene to explain the crash to the Police. He explained that he was preparing to turn into the Petrol Station when he heard a loud noise from the rear of his truck.

He exited the cab and saw the three women lying on the road near their bike. He assumed that the bike collided with the rear of the slow moving truck at a high rate of speed.

There were no additional witnesses leaving the Police to determine the chain-of-events leading to the crash which is still under investigation.

[Pattayaman]

Though we do not and probably never will know exactly what happened it amazes me that people think they can have full control of a motorcycle with ,more than 2 people on board,the brakes are designed to stop the said vehicle with 2 people not more.Sad that the authorities seem unable or /and unwilling to stop this practice.Such a sad waste of lives

[Humphrey Bear]

And Thai mo'bike riders are always overtaking on the inside, often unable to see the turn indicators on long trucks, 'coz they're already halfway up the vehicle.

OK, the driver should also have been using his mirrors, but this seems to me to be the mo'bike drivers fault - three-up, inside a truck turning left.

What about crash-hats? Plastic toys? If any.

[Humphrey Bear]

SOURCE: Pattaya City News: May 18th 2007

Two women dead after truck versus motorbike crash on the Sukumvit Road.

The driver of the truck remained at the scene to explain the crash to the Police. He explained that he was preparing to turn into the Petrol Station when he heard a loud noise from the rear of his truck.

So you can be damned sure he considers that he was not at fault.

Well done to him - a good responsible citizen.

[gharknes]

Maybe a government road safety campain on TV - then a police clamp down on the people who break traffic laws might have some impact, enforcing wearing of a helmet seems to be the only thing the police are interested in, I know it would be a tall oreder and would take years to change the mindset of road users but it would be a start, once the police start fineing people they may gradually get to realise that driving up the wrong side of the road etc. is wrong dangerous and costly.

very tragic thread, three young girls dead

[Jimjim]

How about putting babies on your motorbike? Unbelievable, it still makes me shake my head in awe and wonder.

[keebone]

enforcing wearing of a helmet seems to be the only thing the police are interested in,

Drive by any school in Pattaya or anywhere else in Thailand for that matter at around 3-4pm and you'll see dozens of kids leaving for home on motorbikes without any crash helmets and usually about 3 to a bike. You'll normally find police there turning a blind eye while directing the traffic.

It wouldn't be that the police are only interested in stopping people they think they have a chance of getting money out of by any chance

[tropo]

Though we do not and probably never will know exactly what happened it amazes me that people think they can have full control of a motorcycle with ,more than 2 people on board,the brakes are designed to stop the said vehicle with 2 people not more.Sad that the authorities seem unable or /and unwilling to stop this practice.Such a sad waste of lives

In actual fact the specifications of a motorcycle are more specific than "2 people". Any motorcycle will have a specified load limit. I ride a Yamaha Nouvo, and this particular bike, for example, has a load limit of 115kg all up. I weigh 105kg, so really I can't carry passengers within the safety guide lines of this particular motorcycle.

Most of the scooters would have similar load limits, many lower. There aren't many Thai adults x 3 with a total weight of under 115kg.

[Phil Conners]

The way most Thai motorbike riders zap in and out of the traffic, turning without any sign, cutting in front of anything including trucks, it's not strange some of them have accidents.

Edited May 19, 2007 by Phil Conners

[tropo]

The way most Thai motorbike riders zap in and out of the traffic, turning without any sign, cutting in front of anything including trucks, it's not strange some of them have accidents.

To me it's surprising there so few accidents considering their seemingly obliviousness toward danger. Most seem to possess helmets, however they prefer to carry them on their handlebars rather than on their heads.

[davethailand]

I was riding back from Siracha last night and at about 10pm there was a crash just after laem chabang and there were 2 bodies in the road and bike severywhere along with lots of fleshy mush.

[libya 115]

******NEWS******UPDATE******

In this news report it states clearly that the truck was stationary.

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: May 20th 2007

THREE GIRLS ON A MOTORBIKE CRASH INTO A TRUCK; TWO DEAD, ANOTHER SERIOIUSLY INJURED

Three girls on a motorbike attempted to take over a six wheeler but a car behind them came too close and caused the bike to crash into the back of the truck. Two of them were killed. Another one was severely injured.

The accident was in front of the JET petrol station, Rong-Poe, Sukhumvit, Chonburi. They were on their way to a job interview.

On the 18th May 2007, at 09.30 am, Pol.Lt. Prasit Lekdee, Banglamung Investigator, received a report about a motorbike that crashed into a truck, involving two fatalities and one serious injury.

The accident was in front of the JET petrol station, Rong-Poe, Sukhumvit, Moo 9, Banglamung, Chonburi. He then rushed out with Sawang Boriboon Rescue to investigate.

A red Honda Wave motorbike, licensed 233 Chonburi, crashed into the back of a white six wheeler Isuzu truck, licensed 84-0268 Chonburi. The truck belonged to Piyanan Transport Company which was parked in front of the JET petrol station.

The body of Miss Tasanee Gaewkhao (20) was found deceased at the site of the accident. The other two girls were severely injured. Police transferred them to Banglamung Hospital. However, one of them did not make it. She was Miss Amornrat Phengruen-ngarm (22).The only survivor was Miss Ratana Gaewkhao (22), who was badly injured.

At the incident, the truck driver was still standing there looking startled. He said that he was driving from his home to pick up goods at Laem Chabang. He stopped at the JET station for drinking water and left the hazard light on. Suddenly, a motorbike crashed into the back of his truck and caused loss of life and injury.

A cousin of the one of the dead girls said that the dead girl and the injured girl are cousins. They left home on a motorbike from Rong-Poe for a job interview at Sriracha, Chonburi. Miss Tasanee Gaewkhao was the third rider and that caused the tragic accident.

Police assumed that the dead girl was operating the motorbike and attempting to take over the truck that was parked on the side street, but failed when a car coming from behind was speeding too close to the bike and the motorbike crashed into the back of the truck. This caused the accident which killed the two girls and caused serious injury to the third girl.

Photographs courtesy of Pattaya Daily News: May 20th 2007

[keebone]

Thais generally seem to have no spatial awareness at all. They ride bikes and their head is fixed in 1 position facing straight ahead as though held by metal pins and they never seem to bother checking in their mirrors or a quick glance over the shoulder.

As for indicators well until someone invents a self cancelling indicator for motorcycles dont even begin to take notice of what way they're indicating. They'll happily ride down a soi indicating to turn 1 way and then turn another.

[tropo]

Thais generally seem to have no spatial awareness at all. They ride bikes and their head is fixed in 1 position facing straight ahead as though held by metal pins and they never seem to bother checking in their mirrors or a quick glance over the shoulder.

It has more to do with their limited fear of death compared to people in the West. It's more of a cultural and religious thing than one of "spacial awareness". Another consideration is their age. Most foreigners at the same age were quite careless too. Check out the young tourists to see how dangerously they ride.