A 73- year-old American motorbike driver and Pattaya ex-pat has sustained injuries after being struck and entangled by hanging communication wires while he was driving a motorbike in the Pattaya area.

 

The Nongprue Municipality Deputy Mayor Mr. Wanchai Sanengam visited Mr. Mark, last name withheld, 73, an American national at his house in Soi Khao Noi on June 24th, 2022.

 

Mr. Wanchai told TPN media, “Mr. Mark has been injured from a motorbike accident when a communication wire became entangled with him while he was driving his motorbike back to his house. He is now recovering but still needs brain X-rays.”

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/06/24/73-year-old-american-motorbike-driver-injured-by-hanging-communication-wires-in-the-pattaya-area/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-06-24

 

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73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

41 minutes ago, steven100 said:

73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

I rode my bike until I was 75 before I quit.

 

Out here in rural Kamphaeng Phet to get caught in handing communication wires I would have to ride 10 or 20 off road to where the power poles are.

I think a few riders are going to have to die,before anything starts to get done.

regards worgeordie

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

Whether 17 or 73, a hanging cable around the neck would have the same result.

The cause of the accident was the negligence with the unsecured cable, not the age of the biker.

2 hours ago, Joe Farang said:

Whether 17 or 73, a hanging cable around the neck would have the same result.

The cause of the accident was the negligence with the unsecured cable, not the age of the biker.

Yes, cause the vision and reaction time of a 17 y/o is exactly the same as someone that's 73.  

 

On a similar note, why isn't George Forman going to fight Tyson Fury?

Time to hang up the leathers mr mark. you're a lucky man as it is, most never get up off the concrete alive! Grab a Grab next time you fancy a grope.

8 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He is now recovering but still needs brain X-rays

That is odd isn't it?

 

I had a crash a few years back here in US & that was the first order of business at the ER

They said I should be the poster boy for helmets as mine was smashed but no head or brain injury  ????

8 hours ago, steven100 said:

73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

Probably less than with a young guy with a lot less experience but lots of testosterone.

Why are you discriminating elderly? They cause less traffic problems than young persons.

And by the way: it was not him that caused the problem, but the wires. 

Edited June 24, 20224 yr by toho

I know the wires in some areas are low,I can Imagine he was was not looking at the time.No helmet  as well,look ahead when riding the bike,at lest he is allright

8 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I think a few riders are going to have to die,before anything starts to get done.

regards worgeordie

Exactly, one death, not an issue, 2nd death got  their attention, 3rd, might get fixed. 

It is time to get serious with the companies that have irresponsible employees allowing hanging  wires to kill or injure people .

I have seen one example of where the hanging wire was looped at the bottom like a noose ready to snare someone .

I do not see age as a contributing factor in this incident . I said incident as it is not a accident .

53 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeh, looking at the photo and the head injury, it appears that the guy wasn't wearing a helmet. 

It took long enough for someone to point this out. And the Thai police should take motor bikes away from those without a real helmet. There are too many out there not wearing them. That would cut the death rate by more than 50%

9 hours ago, steven100 said:

73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

Really, I have been riding big bikes in Thailand for 20 years without 1 accident and I am 74. I am in better shape now than I was in 30 years ago. If one takes care of him or her self and has good eye sight we can ride for a long time, how long, it's hard to say only you will know when to stop.

5 minutes ago, 10baht said:

It took long enough for someone to point this out. And the Thai police should take motor bikes away from those without a real helmet. There are too many out there not wearing them. That would cut the death rate by more than 50%

There would be hardly any on the roads and most kids would not make it to school. The death rate seems to be something they tolerate.

73 is not the same for all of us that’s my age I still ride my Harley Davidson road king still play three rounds of golf a week  and walk two hours a day

I saw a Thai youngster get hung by wires on 2nd Road near Central Festival a few months back….not pretty at any age! ????????????

From the full article:

 

“The accident was caused by a communication company who were reckless as they let communication wires drop and hang above a roadway after maintenance."

 

He probably wasn't wearing a helmet, which is stupid but a very common stupidity in Thailand and many other places. 

 

Wires hanging over the road can catch anyone on a bike, and will usually kill when encountered at speed.  The fact that he survived indicates he wasn't driving fast. 

Edited June 24, 20224 yr by heybruce

One thing is for sure, you may be healthy, but you dont bounce as well when your in your 70's, your gonna break !  more brittle etc.

Yes, he needs his "head examined" !

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

What makes you think that anything is going to get done? 

 

I've been riding the roads of Thailand for over 20 years, it's always been the same, there's going to be the occasional dangerous challenge. 

If you're going to ride a motorbike in Thailand you must be more vigilant, aware of the many obstacles that are thrown at you from time to time. 

 

 

If I was this American rider, I'd be very embarrassed, I would have kept my mouth shut and hopped back on the bike when recovered, and be more bloody careful next time.

Geeze, it amuses me, foreigners coming to Thailand complaining about road conditions (let the Thais sought out the problems and do the complaining), if you're a foreigner, enjoy the beauty that Thailand has to offer. 

 

It doesn't matter what your age is, if you're Incompetent you're going to have an accident, MANAGE yourself people, stop blaming others, be Accountable. 

 

Next time, take the car or use Bolt. 

 

Yes, I'm expecting the Sad and Confused reactions from those of you that are Not Accountable or Incompetent. 

 

 

Agree totally! If the age is that vital, there should be an age limit as well that makes it illegal to drive a motorbike. I would have just got up and taken care of myself and felt lucky I didn't get killed or hurt badly and would have reported the hazard. No need for the dramatics here, just pay attention to the many hazards here. If you are still fit at his age, then no problem. Did he pass the test for reaction time, pass the obstacle test? You can't classify everyone the same, if you are still fit and no health issues, then good on you, but don't be a fat, lazy, git with a closed mind.

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

I'm 79, still riding my scooter and probably a damn sight fitter than some couch potato behind a keyboard.

All these should have been placed under ground years ago, however, the government hasn't got a epair to force the media companys to comply, manly because Thailands hi so and politicians are the main share holders.

The location of the wound dressing on the guy's head says he wasn't wearing a helmet. That's stupid at any age.

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

An ignorant post! I was riding a motorcycle at 79 yrs old. If one feels confident enough at whatever age, its down to the individual. What I read of the details, it wan not the riders fault

And had this gentleman been driving a car, no need for a brain x-ray, because cars protect you against this scenario.

 

The End.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Surasak said:

What I read of the details, it wan not the riders fault

My father taught me you can be right or you can be dead right.

 

Riding a motorcycle is 10 x more likely to result in your death vs a car [USA]. 

 

In Thailand it has to be even riskier.

 

Thus, you might say Riding is Dead Wrong. ☠️

 

18 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The location of the wound dressing on the guy's head says he wasn't wearing a helmet. That's stupid at any age.

The chicken essence will see him right!

2 hours ago, toho said:

Why are you discriminating elderly?

Good question, IMHO ageism is the only "ism" that remains socially acceptable, these days. Sometimes it is bordering plain sheer hatred; and somehow it never gets censored.

 

This thread is amazing, an accident happened,  caused by the company that let their wires dangle in the path of traffic, and now the victim gets blamed because he is "boomer". Seems that some people are jealous of the good life we boomers can enjoy here.

Edited June 25, 20224 yr by Boomer6969

In the west the phrase is “ lowest hanging fruit”

Translated to Thai is “ lowest hanging wires”

11 hours ago, steven100 said:

73 years old and riding a motorbike in Thailand .....   what could possibly go wrong   !!

Nothing necessarily goes wrong if you are physically and cognitively able to operate the motorbike and PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION to what is going on around you.