SOURCE: Pattaya People: May 22nd 2007

Motorbike Accident in South Pattaya Soi 17

A motorbike accident that occurred in South Pattaya Soi 17 was reported to the Pattaya Police at 9 pm on 18th May where someone was injured.

Two Honda Waves were found at the scene. A Thai woman aged 19 was injured with head wounds and was losing a lot of blood so the Sawang Rescuers quickly took her to the hospital.

An eye witness stated Miss Ancharaporn, aged 15, came at high speed and overtook a motorbike but lost balance and hit a man who was trying to cross the road and then bounced back to hit the motorbike, which she overtook injuring the woman rider.

More investigations will be made after recording statements and crime scene.

Since all the new development up Soi 17 it has become a speedway.

Every evening there are teenagers on mo'bikes doing 50kph up around Liberty mansion / Eden Hotel.

And there are no sidewalks for pedestrians.

Soi 17 is, and pretty much always has been, an accident waiting to happen. I'm surprised there aren't more serious accidents.

Between the already narrow street, the construction and various shop stalls spilling out onto the soi, plus the motos, pedestrians, vendors, cars and delivery trucks travelling in both directions (usually at high speed), soi 17 is more dangerous (IMO) than trying to cross # 2 Road.

It should almost be mandatory for anyone wanting a driver's licence, that they have to be able to drive from one end of the soi to the other and back again. Make it without being involved in an accident and you get your licence.

When ever I drive up or down there, I take it easy and have my head on a swivel. The only accident (so far) I've been involved in was as a passenger on a moto-taxi going along soi 17. It was minor (fortunately), and being half-drunk probably saved me from injury. Just as we were passing soi Hollywood, a pick-up came out of there, making a right turn onto soi 17 (without stopping or looking or even slowing down). The moto-taxi clipped the rear end of the truck and went down.

As the bike started to fall, I basically just stood up. Momentum caused me to take a couple of hops, skips and jumps forward, and I was able to grab the driver just before he fell onto his moto. He proceeded to curse and shake his fist at the truck which of course sped of into the distance. Obviously I was lucky. A split second difference could have seen us slamming into the side of the truck, with a much more serious outcome.

I still use moto-taxis on ocassion, and there are times when I've sriously considered getting off and walking. Far too many crazy people willing to take far too many risks just to get a little further a little faster.

crime scene.

Does the Pattaya People know something they're not telling?

What about the man the girl hit and "bounced off", no mention of his injuries assuming there were some. A safe assumption as she was travelling at "high speed".