Rider on 650 cc bike and pillion passenger both dead after collision with drunk van driver

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Phasi Charoen police and rescue services were called to Phutthamonthon Sai 1 just after midnight this morning for a double fatality.

 

It happened outside the Chaba restaurant when a Hyundai van was leaving and entering the second lane of the three lane road.

 

The Honda CBR 650 skidded 100 meters down the road. 

 

Dead at the scene from a broken neck and facial injuries was 29 year old Jatupong. His pillion passenger was not carrying ID and Thai Rath didn't say if it was a man or a woman but was also dead.

 

Both were taken to Sirirat Hospital for autopsy.

 

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The van driver had been with 7/8 family members enjoying themselves at a party at a khao tom restaurant before leaving.

 

Phasi Charoen police took the driver in and he was over the alcohol limit.

 

He was charged with DUI - other charges may follow. 

 

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[giddyup]

I don't care how good or careful a motorbike rider you are, there are some things that are just impossible to avoid.

[biggles45]

What relevance is the bikes engine size, the van driver was drunk? 

[biggles45]

Yes, you can't guard against stupidity. been hit twice on my bike, both times stationary turning right with indicators. Hit by Thais not paying attention. 

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I don't care how good or careful a motorbike rider you are, there are some things that are just impossible to avoid.

Agreed.... 

 

But, not riding at night cuts out a huge amount of risk.... from the point of better visibility and being more visible and fewer others around being drunk with the less likelihood of others being drunk.

 

 

 

[Screaming]

It is insane to drive a motorbike in Thailand. I have owed over twenty five motorbikes in all sizes in my lifetime and consider myself a skilled rider but I would never get on a motorbike in Thailand. Rider beware that you are tempting fate when you ride in Thailand.

[Aussieroaming]

Scumbag drunk driver should be charged with murder, regardless of whether the biker was partially at fault or not. Drink and drive and pay the highest penalty possible I say.

[vandeventer]

12 minutes ago, Screaming said:

It is insane to drive a motorbike in Thailand. I have owed over twenty five motorbikes in all sizes in my lifetime and consider myself a skilled rider but I would never get on a motorbike in Thailand. Rider beware that you are tempting fate when you ride in Thailand.

Really, I have been riding on big bikes here for over twenty years and never been in a accident .Knock on wood!

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, Screaming said:

It is insane to drive a motorbike in Thailand. I have owed over twenty five motorbikes in all sizes in my lifetime and consider myself a skilled rider but I would never get on a motorbike in Thailand. Rider beware that you are tempting fate when you ride in Thailand.

Realistically...  a motorcycle rider is tempting fate when riding anywhere, especially when the alternative is to take a car. 

 

That said risk is balanced and many of ‘us’ (Thailand motorcycle riders) balance the risk and cut out a significant proportion of risk by ensuring the following: 

- Never riding at night.

- Never speeding.

- Never riding after drinking (beers).

- Not riding in the rain (wherever possible).

- Wearing gear (variable depending on destination and roads travelled).

- Eyes on a swivel (extremely defensive riding). 

- Riding with ABS.

- NEVER riding with an assumption (i.e. that you have been seen / they will not pull out in front of you).

- Defensive road positioning (i.e. 1st to stop at lights, don’t stop in the centre of the road etc).

 

I’ve never had an accident here... (knock-on-wood) - I was driving a car for 15 years before I rode a motorcycle here - the reason for that, my maturity (in my 20’s & 30’s)... by the time I got a bike here in my late 30’s I had a lot of ‘Thai road experience’ and a true understanding of the utter silliness that can unfold. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[4MyEgo]

57 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I don't care how good or careful a motorbike rider you are, there are some things that are just impossible to avoid.

However, you have more chances of avoiding them if you are experienced.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Honda CBR 650 skidded 100 meters down the road.

100 metres tells me he was inexperienced and moving, something you don't do when there are cars around or side streets, and especially NOT at night IMO.

 

RIP

 

Edited March 21, 2022 by 4MyEgo

[BMW Overlander]

33 minutes ago, Screaming said:

It is insane to drive a motorbike in Thailand. I have owed over twenty five motorbikes in all sizes in my lifetime and consider myself a skilled rider but I would never get on a motorbike in Thailand. Rider beware that you are tempting fate when you ride in Thailand.

Stop lying ????

[4MyEgo]

3 minutes ago, BMW Overlander said:

Stop lying ????

I too have owned a fair few bikes in my life, the last one was 1100cc. Been living here 6 years and would never get on a bike here.

 

The fact that their is no police presence on the roads, lack of speed cameras, booze buses and large fines/jail for repeat offenders with no licenses (corruption) etc, just encourages people to run amuck, loved riding, but love my life more here.

[JonnyF]

I had a similar incident 2 years ago on an 850cc bike. The marks on the road showed I slid about 50 metres down the road after being hit from behind (the damage to the bike showed me that) but I escaped with a broken collarbone, 3 broken ribs and a broken thumb (plus the usual road rash even though I had a bike jacket on). I was knocked unconscious and woke in the ambulance but my helmet shows that I slid at least some of that distance on the side of my head and count myself lucky not to have suffered a serious neck injury like this guy did.

 

I never ride at night now. I will never know but strongly suspect whoever hit me was drunk. RIP to this guy and his friend.

 

 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He was charged with DUI - other charges may follow.

Double manslaughter I hope.

[Tarteso]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The van driver had been with 7/8 family members

All members agreed to trust with a drunk driver. ????

[billy54]

2 hours ago, biggles45 said:

Yes, you can't guard against stupidity. been hit twice on my bike, both times stationary turning right with indicators. Hit by Thais not paying attention. 

Yep that's the one... They've nearly wiped me out A few times  .right turn signal on waiting just inside the centre line due to bikes  coming in the opposite direction. Then the retard hurtles up behind you and overtake. Blaring his horn as passes no regard for the on coming bikes. Difficult to do in cities Ive now adopted the wait by side of road till all is clear on turning right. 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, biggles45 said:

Yes, you can't guard against stupidity. been hit twice on my bike, both times stationary turning right with indicators. Hit by Thais not paying attention. 

My brother-in-law too, and he ended up with two metal plates in his leg.

[2 is 1]

2 hours ago, Tarteso said:

All members agreed to trust with a drunk driver. ????

That is huge problem in Thailand , almost EVERYBODY drive after drinking! And bigger problem is that nobody dont say anything or try to stop of doing that! From every party where i have been all leave whit car or bike drink or not and nobody dont even notice that one coz normal behavior! Police drive drunk in they free time, teatchers, school directors........ all and they act like its normal to do so!

[giddyup]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

However, you have more chances of avoiding them if you are experienced.

 

100 metres tells me he was inexperienced and moving, something you don't do when there are cars around or side streets, and especially NOT at night IMO.

 

RIP

 

You have more chance of avoiding them if you don't ride a motorbike at all.

[4MyEgo]

4 minutes ago, 2 is 1 said:

That is huge problem in Thailand , almost EVERYBODY drive after drinking! And bigger problem is that nobody dont say anything or try to stop of doing that!

Yep, know a couple of bars who allowed their customers to keep drinking, those customers (farangs) riding home at night, but didn't make it. 

 

In farang land, they would be up on charges, but here in the LOS, it is what it is, bottom line, up to us to stay safe in this place while out and about, because the cops and others sure as hell ain't. 

[digger70]

20 Yrs Jail for Drunken Van Driver.

[richard_smith237]

35 minutes ago, 2 is 1 said:

That is huge problem in Thailand , almost EVERYBODY drive after drinking! And bigger problem is that nobody dont say anything or try to stop of doing that! From every party where i have been all leave whit car or bike drink or not and nobody dont even notice that one coz normal behavior! Police drive drunk in they free time, teatchers, school directors........ all and they act like its normal to do so!

Exactly that... 

 

I used to be able to say....   I don’t know any Thai’s who have not had an accident due to drunk driving, I don’t know any westerners who have. 

 

However, in the past few years I’ve known a couple of westerners who have had motorcycle accidents while drunk (both were lucky to survive). 

 

The reality is drink driving while heavily intoxicated is normalised here, society does not view it as a criminal activity, there is no social distain towards drunk drivers.... as such we’re the odd one out when we do not drink drive.

 

--------

 

I drove to a restaurant last week... stopped at the drop off... Wife, Son, in Laws got out. 

After the meal we ordered the car....  I got in the passenger seat - the restaurant owner asked ‘aren’t you driving?’ ....  “No, I’ve had 3 beers”...  was my response which genuinely surprised him. 

 

Now, I don’t mind too much if someone drinks after a beer etc... and I will, but I’ll not drive after more than 2 (small) bottles of beer... I won’t drive after 1 if I’m with my Wife because she doesn’t drink at all and is quite a decent driver. 

[Road Warrior]

sad yet again . thai driving  unbelievable --such idiots !!! 

[Pedrogaz]

The bike slid 100 metres so it wasn't going fast.

[SS1]

5 hours ago, Screaming said:

It is insane to drive a motorbike in Thailand. I have owed over twenty five motorbikes in all sizes in my lifetime and consider myself a skilled rider but I would never get on a motorbike in Thailand. Rider beware that you are tempting fate when you ride in Thailand.

Still much safer than traveling in a van, taxi or motorbike taxi. At least on my own motorcycle, I'm in 100% control of the vechicle instead of some yaba head Somchai behind the wheel. 

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

The bike slid 100 metres so it wasn't going fast.

I wouldn't give too much credence to the reporting of 100m... it could have been 25m, its unlikely the reporter or person they were quoting would know the difference. 

 

Its the same when onlookers suggest ’speeding’... they’ve no idea or frame of reference, a noisy bike ’seems’ faster etc.. 

 

 

Additionally, how far does a ‘dropped' bike have to slide before we know it was or wasn’t speeding ?

 

[Damrongsak]

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

The bike slid 100 metres so it wasn't going fast.

Not after it smashed into the right rear side of the van.  CCTV video here shows the bike going pretty fast.  It was just a blur on the video.  Looks like the bike didn't go anywhere near 100 meters.  The van continued to drive a distance.

 

https://www.newsdirectory3.com/tragic-moment-big-bike-collapsed-body-knocked-down-killed-2-hit-the-van-revealing-the-effect-of-alcohol/

 

 

Edited March 21, 2022 by Damrongsak

[impulse]

6 hours ago, biggles45 said:

What relevance is the bikes engine size, the van driver was drunk? 

Where does it say it was the van driver's fault? 

 

Just because he was over the legal limit doesn't mean he caused the wreck.  

[Moonlover]

Watch the video. (Link above) The motorcycle was going way too fast. The fact that the van driver was DUI is obviously relevant, as is the fact that he pulled straight out into the righthand lane, a very common and bad habit here.

 

But there's no doubt that the motorcycle was going like the proverbial 'bat out of hell' and was the main factor in their deaths.

[swerve]

I watched the video.  I think the black pickup in the curb lane with his back end sticking into the first traffic lane was partially responsible for this horrendous crash.  Thais often (selfishly) park like that and it's dangerous. If the pickup hadn't been there the van driver may have stayed in the outside lane. The motorbike was also going way too fast and the drunk van driver didn't see him. RIP.