Careless contractors: Poor lighting as two vehicles plunge into unfinished pipe trench - they live

[webfact]

Picture: Naew Na

 

Two local people were lucky to escape death after they drove their vehicles into a large trench dug to lay pipes on the Mitraphap (Friendship) Highway in Sung Noen district heading towards Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday night.

 

The Sung Noen district chief admitted there was poor lighting and better warnings were put in place yesterday to prevent a repeat.

 

It happened in the area of Ban Rai Khok Sung at 9.30 pm on the local road next to the highway. A man in a pick-up suffered multiple injuries as did a lady in a car who also broke her right leg. 

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Both people from Sikhio district, were taken to Sung Noen hospital after first aid at the scene from rescue officials.

 

Naew Na went to the area yesterday and found barriers erected 500 meters before the site of the accident and 300 meters after. There were flashing solar lights. 

 

Rescue said that at the time of the accident there was poor lighting and a barrier just 5-6 meters from the hole that is 2.7 meters deep and 2mx6m wide. 

 

It was an accident waiting to happen for anyone travelling at speed, they said. 

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Four different contractors are working in four different spots to solve flooding on the highway.

 

Sung Noen district chief Phaitoon Mahacheunjai and provincial police chief Pol Maj-Gen Pornchai Nuanchai were at the scene yesterday before meeting with other officials and representatives from the contractors.

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Phaitoon admitted the lighting had been insufficient and added that now sand piles were also in place to prevent a repeat. The local road would be closed for four months as work continues to address flooding in the area.

 

The contractors responsible are helping those affected by the accident and will be paying the required compensation to the victims. 

 

Naew Na said that footage of the accident was on the Sung Noen Facebook page but ASEAN NOW was unable to locate this. 

 

The page did however have many follow up stories and video of the reaction to the accident and meetings held by officials. 

 

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[ChrisY1]

Unbelievable in 2022 that this sh*t happens still!

I just don't understand the project management people never doing anything about the appalling mess that happens all the time!

Cha Am is have drainage installed in the main access road to the beach. Again.....it's a disgusting and dangerous mess that's being made and each day is the same...no-one gives a fig!

[pedro01]

Gotta say - the drivers weren't exactly paying attention - if I can see potholes at night, I'm sure I'd see this....

[Geoffggi]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Rescue said that at the time of the accident there was poor lighting and a barrier just 5-6 meters from the hole that is 2.7 meters deep and 2mx6m wide. 

 

It was an accident waiting to happen for anyone travelling at speed, they said. 

Thailand Safety First I don't think so, and they want to attract high-so tourists ...................LOL

[NE1]

Usually an incident like this , is a lesson learned..

Safety bulletins and memos go out to contractors , explaining what could happen if  blah blah blah.

But no ,  I'm afraid it will happen again somewhere else.

[edwinchester]

Somebody needs the difference between proactive and reactive explained to them.

[mikebell]

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

It was an accident waiting to happen for anyone travelling at speed,

So every Thai driver.

[Willy Wombat]

They forgot to put the safety tree branches in front of the ditch.

[Gottfrid]

To me it looks like they have surrounded the place with cones and reflexes as well as big plastic blocks. Amazing that the drivers couldn´t see that!

[RJRS1301]

5 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

To me it looks like they have surrounded the place with cones and reflexes as well as big plastic blocks. Amazing that the drivers couldn´t see that!

I think those large plastic barriers were placed there post accident, to prevent injury to rescue workers on the scene

[Gottfrid]

2 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

I think those large plastic barriers were placed there post accident, to prevent injury to rescue workers on the scene

You think? OK

[ikke1959]

This is the reason why I don't like to drive in the dark. Bad lights, unexpected obstacles on the road, people not paying attention and with broken back lights, and construction works with no signs poorly announced with a few tiny lights. .... Nobody cares and as they wrote in the article.... speeding quick quick quick to go from A to B watching with 1 one on the phone and the other ???? the whole is big enough, lower the speed and nothing will happen

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, Willy Wombat said:

They forgot to put the safety tree branches in front of the ditch.

???? but in some cases it's better than usual " nothing" 

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

I just don't understand the project management people never doing anything about the appalling mess that happens all the time!

In my experience, Thais can't manage complex and dangerous activities and have little understanding of health and safety, risk assessment and implementation of control measures. 

[Classic Ray]

Every worker I have ever had work at my house has had to borrow tools, ladders etc from me.

 

The same seems to happen on roads where contractors possess a minimum of safety equipment which they are reluctant to deploy. This is probably as their fellow contractors would nick it. 
 

Makes me cry to see the lack of concern about safety and their fellow inhabitants in Thailand.

[VinnieK]

It's the norm...few warning lights, concrete barrier (barely visible) etc. 

Oh..and drunk moto drivers without headlights ,speeding ..

What could go wrong. 

A red and white barrier tape surrounding the whole site could do wonders ,for 100 baht, but no...rarely seen one 

 

 

 

 

[Cake Monster]

The hole is not even on the Highway.

Any person with only half a Brain can see even in the Dark, that this is a Construction Lane next to the Highway.

[Bangkok Barry]

2 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

The hole is not even on the Highway.

Any person with only half a Brain can see even in the Dark, that this is a Construction Lane next to the Highway.

That's exactly what I was thinking. This part of the road is surely closed, with all traffic diverted to the road on the right in the photo. There are several sites not far from where I live as similar work is being undertaken. But there, as probably in this case, people drive on the closed portion anyway because Thais never, ever, think the rules apply to them. The fact that only two vehicles, and not the many dozens that pass that way, fell into the hole really tells you all you need to know.

[MrJ2U]

That sucks. 

[Stargeezr]

There should have been lots of barriers for a hole this size, I wonder

why the sand or concrete barriers were not in place for the night times.

  Many unanswered questions to this story.

[VinnieK]

13 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

The hole is not even on the Highway.

Any person with only half a Brain can see even in the Dark, that this is a Construction Lane next to the Highway.

Have you driven at night lately?

Keep in mind that many ppl have impaired eyesight also...add drunkenness, no headlights etc etc

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

The Sung Noen district chief admitted there was poor lighting and better warnings were put in place yesterday to prevent a repeat.

Amazing Thailand.

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Rescue said that at the time of the accident there was poor lighting and a barrier just 5-6 meters from the hole that is 2.7 meters deep and 2mx6m wide. 

 

It was an accident waiting to happen for anyone travelling at speed, they said.

Safety last Thailand.