Video: "No justice" for Thai motorcycle delivery guy after collision with American driving golf buggy in luxury housing estate

[webfact]

Sanook Thai Caption: There has been no justice 

 

The father of a teenage motorcycle delivery rider seriously injured in a collision with a golf buggy being driven by an American man in a luxury housing estate in the Bangkok suburbs has gone to the media for justice. 

 

A video showed the collision at a crossing in the estate in Soi Samakhee 29 on May 1st last year.

 

The American was behind the wheel of the left hand drive buggy that appeared to be starting a right turn.

 

The rider Chettha Phakphianphairoj, 19, went flying. A woman is seen getting out from the front passenger seat next to the driver. She appears to be telling the man to stay where he is. 

 

Chettha needed plates in both arms after they were both broken. In the nine months since, the American has made no attempt to contact the Thai family, said the victim's father Phisit Chokesermsap, 44, an ice delivery man.

 

 

He said he wanted justice for his son. 

 

To add insult to injury, he said, the Pak Kret police charged his son with negligence causing damage to another person's vehicle. 

 

The father said the American's sudden turn to go right caused the accident. 

 

The only good thing was that his son was wearing a helmet and didn't have head injuries. 

 

He said the family were suffering without the income generated by their son while he recovered. 

 

He said he had already appealed to Pol Col Pongjak Preechaakarunpong, chief of police at Pak Kret, only to see his son summonsed to face charges himself.

 

Now he wants an investigation higher up the RTP chain of command. 

 

ASEAN NOW notes that whether the rider should have been overtaking on a clearly marked crossing was not mentioned in the Sanook article. 

 

Though whether the buggy should have been turning in such a place also seemed irregular. 

 

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[ezzra]

Freaks of nature, it seems that really no one to blame here, the buggy was turning and the moto was trying to overtake on the right, you can say that the moto rider didn't observe the intention of the vehicle ahead and slow down or avoid the accident all together but this is splitting hairs now, and as moto or golf buggy don't carry insurance the moto rider left holding the bag...

Edited February 10, 2022 by ezzra

[tonray]

The moto seems to be going pretty fast...maybe way too fast for inside a MooBaan, and typically seemed to ignore anything in front of them. I see motos everyday when driving on local roads just going where they want without any warning and not caring if you are on the road. 

[ndreamer]

Buggy was hit from behind still in his own lane. Bike was going much faster in a built up area, his lucky his hit a buggy and not some kid.

 

Riding any bike you need to ride defensive, being so close like that is a disaster waiting to happen, a simple turn of a wheel should not matter in the slightest to anyone that did basic training.

[Dmaxdan]

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

Now he wants an investigation higher up the RTP chain of command. 

This seems like another case of fleecing the farang for every baht he is worth. 

[KhunLA]

11 minutes ago, ndreamer said:

Buggy was hit from behind still in his own lane.

Have to agree, and the MB cut that way too close while passing. 

 

Buggy not out of lane when point of contact.  Passing at a crosswalk, is that even allowed, along with the solid white line (no passing) on road.  BIB handled that one correctly.

 

Justice ... be careful what you ask for.

[OneMoreFarang]

Unfortunately many motorcycle riders just don't look and/or think ahead.

I.e. if the vehicle in front of them slows down, i.e. because of a zebra crossing, then many riders just keep going and overtake the slower vehicle. And then bad things happen. And even in the hindsight they don't understand that it was a stupid idea to assume everything in front of them is clear and there is no reason for the vehicle slowing down.

 

In this case the motorcycle rider should have been prepared to brake down to a stop in case anybody was on that zebra crossing. He obviously wasn't prepared.

 

For the record: I ride motorcycle and I see also many bad car and truck drivers. But unfortunately many idiots ride bikes and think they are invincible. 

[Captain Monday]

The moto was going too fast for sure but do these Buggies even have turn signals and brake lights?

 

[GeorgeCross]

51 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

This seems like another case of fleecing the farang for every baht he is worth. 

well trying to anyway. so far the police have sided with the american. its the thai family that are in the wrong by not apologising for their son's reckless driving

[smedly]

These delivery drivers ride like lunatics I have noticed - pretty sure I am not the only one to have observed this

[stigar]

In surin some years ago a foreigner rented a car from an foreign restaurant who told that he have cars for rent.Well,the foreigner who rented the car had an accident.2 drunk thais on a bike hit the front.The police charged the foreigner 200.000 bath for the families.He didnt have that so rigth to jail.

The restaurant who rent out the car didnt have licence for that.He wasnt charged anything.

They will blame the foreigner whatever happend.

[ozimoron]

I see no indicators or rear view mirrors and the buggy is turning on a pedestrian crossing. The buggy driver has to give way to vehicles behind him before turning. The moto rider was in a position to see that there was nobody on or near the pedestrian crossing. The buggy driver is civilly liable by driving in a dangerous manner. He turned into the moto rider who was traveling in a constant direction.

 

disclaimer: I'm a qualified driving instructor. Thai road laws are very similar to those in the west.

Edited February 10, 2022 by ozimoron

[ozimoron]

3 minutes ago, stigar said:

In surin some years ago a foreigner rented a car from an foreign restaurant who told that he have cars for rent.Well,the foreigner who rented the car had an accident.2 drunk thais on a bike hit the front.The police charged the foreigner 200.000 bath for the families.He didnt have that so rigth to jail.

The restaurant who rent out the car didnt have licence for that.He wasnt charged anything.

They will blame the foreigner whatever happend.

What side of the road was he on? The restaurant didn't need a license to rent somebody a car.

[stigar]

4 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

What side of the road was he on? The restaurant didn't need a license to rent somebody a car.

I dont know what side of the road he was.This happend when i lived in surin some years ago.

 

[DezLez]

Are these Golf Buggies allowed on the roads, even inside a "community"?

[ozimoron]

13 minutes ago, DezLez said:

Are these Golf Buggies allowed on the roads, even inside a "community"?

Yes, if it's private property the vehicle doesn't need registration. I've seen lots of photos of folks who are 99 not out driving golf buggies on roads in retirement villages in Florida and I have seen it in gated enclaves in Australia. Vehicles are still subject to road laws in these enclaves by local government regulation similar to shopping centre car parks.

Edited February 10, 2022 by ozimoron

[stevenl]

2 hours ago, ndreamer said:

Buggy was hit from behind still in his own lane. Bike was going much faster in a built up area, his lucky his hit a buggy and not some kid.

 

Riding any bike you need to ride defensive, being so close like that is a disaster waiting to happen, a simple turn of a wheel should not matter in the slightest to anyone that did basic training.

 

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Have to agree, and the MB cut that way too close while passing. 

 

Buggy not out of lane when point of contact.  Passing at a crosswalk, is that even allowed, along with the solid white line (no passing) on road.  BIB handled that one correctly.

 

Justice ... be careful what you ask for.

How anyone can claim that is beyond me. The buggy moved to the right considerably already. I'd say around 1 meter or so. The contact was on the right hand side of the buggy.

[josephbloggs]

5 minutes ago, stevenl said:

 

How anyone can claim that is beyond me. The buggy moved to the right considerably already. I'd say around 1 meter or so. The contact was on the right hand side of the buggy.

Because people on this forum immediately and automatically side with a foreigner for almost everything, I have even seen them do it for murder ("two sides to every story", "she must have done something to provoke him", "she was probably cheating on him or stealing" etc)

[NK012]

2 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

This seems like another case of fleecing the farang for every baht he is worth. 

Slow the **** down and no problem.  Open eyes, no problem. InSide a village even?  Come on. 20 kph inside moo bans

[actonion]

Mirror, Signal, Manouvre, before making your move, Did the American have Mirrors Signals  ? on a Golf buggy i doubt it, American attempted to make a turn without looking, a  slower speed  by the motorbike may have avoided the collosion,  My  bet is American is in the wrong, for not looking over his shoulder

[vandeventer]

2 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

This seems like another case of fleecing the farang for every baht he is worth. 

This accident could have happen to anyone but as usual the one who has the most money with the best lawyer will win.

[Andylongtime]

Bike rider is at fault classic Thai money grab. 

[billsmart]

The video, to me, shows it is clearly the buggy-driver's fault. He was "changing lanes" (drifting right), perhaps as preparation to make a right-hand turn. He hit the motorcycle with the front of his buggy. The motorcycle did not appear to run into him.

Why the police have seen this otherwise, especially after seeing the video, could only be caused by one thing... ????

[thailand49]

Maybe this could be tranlated to the Thai father, sorry about your son hope he gets well soon.  The   mistake is he comes from the same school of driving from the footage the police made the correct charges which is shocking. Like the father he believes because one on the bike smaller people must care for them " This is Thailand "  but drivers only have two eyes from the footage the kid was speeding, overtaking the cart at a Crosswalk which in itself against Thai driving law " cannot over or undertake 200-300 meters from an intersection includes crosswalks "  big news today is the Doctor Who was killed. 

Looks like he was working for Grab another factor as long as you are wearing a uniform representing a employee salary or commission these companies need to be held responsible for their driver.  The problem with the lack of knowledge as to how to navigate and execute on any vehicle properly on the road the problem is getting out of control with these delivery drivers.  This request would never be made to another Thai but a foreigner " justice " the father sorry just because we are view as a guest doesn't mean payment should be given for bad behavior these words are also taught in the Thai  religion. Good for the police I sure the person who got out knew the law and clearly noted it to the police.  Get well soon son. 

[chang1]

1 hour ago, ozimoron said:

I see no indicators or rear view mirrors and the buggy is turning on a pedestrian crossing. The buggy driver has to give way to vehicles behind him before turning. The moto rider was in a position to see that there was nobody on or near the pedestrian crossing. The buggy driver is civilly liable by driving in a dangerous manner. He turned into the moto rider who was traveling in a constant direction.

 

disclaimer: I'm a qualified driving instructor. Thai road laws are very similar to those in the west.

So you teach riders that cars will give way to them when in front of them? How many have died assuming this?

I have a bike licence and would never expect a car to give way to me so I could overtake, that would be suicidal. 

This happened on private roads. He was overtaking at speed way too close to a slow moving vehicle. 

[Neeranam]

2 hours ago, stigar said:

They will blame the foreigner whatever happend.

This is nonsense.

 

If there is accident, often they will blame the one who has no influence. Granted, this is usually the foreigner but not always.

 

[BestB]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He said the family were suffering without the income generated by their son while he recovered. 

And this is what it’s all about. 
not who is right or wrong, not his son breaking the road rules but wanting money .father can put on a jacket and go while son recovers 

[Neeranam]

30 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

This request would never be made to another Thai but a foreigner

You are paranoid.

[Neeranam]

58 minutes ago, actonion said:

Mirror, Signal, Manouvre, before making your move, Did the American have Mirrors Signals  ? on a Golf buggy i doubt it, American attempted to make a turn without looking, a  slower speed  by the motorbike may have avoided the collosion,  My  bet is American is in the wrong, for not looking over his shoulder

If course the US guy is at fault.

Some entitled posters here trying to turn it in to a racial thing.

[tgw]

23 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

If course the US guy is at fault.

Some entitled posters here trying to turn it in to a racial thing.

yes, the buggy driver technically was "a little" at fault for not using a hand signal, but the motorcycle driver was more at fault.
the buggy was hit while still in its own lane.

 

the motorcycle was driving too fast for the situation and did not maintain safety distance, and did not assess the situation before overtaking.

Edited February 10, 2022 by tgw