Sedan Driver Ignores Railway Crossing Barriers, Narrowly Avoids Train Collision

[webfact]

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Ratchaburi - Today (May 21, 2023), a news reporter contacted the owner of a Facebook account named Oil Chanaporn, also known as Miss Chanonporn Wanchareon, a young bean sprout vendor.

 

She had posted a video clip on her Facebook page with the caption, "My heart skipped a beat, for real!" #AlmostDisaster. The footage in the clip was taken from a car's front camera, capturing a nerve-wracking incident at a railway crossing near Wat Kong Karam, Moo 3, Klong Tako District, Photharam, Ratchaburi.

 

The video showed the owner of the clip's car waiting for a passing train at the railway crossing barrier. Suddenly, a sedan appeared and skillfully drove through the barriers at a slow pace, just narrowly avoiding a collision with the approaching train's rear end, reported 77kaoded.

 

 

The occupants in the car, equipped with various cameras, shouted in panic. When they finally regained composure, they rolled down the window to ask the sedan's driver, who turned out to be Mr. Lek. He  stated that he did not hear the train's horn.

 

Miss Chanonporn provided additional information over the phone, explaining that on the day of the incident, she was driving back with her friend and needed to cross the railway tracks. However, as they arrived, the barriers suddenly descended, blocking their way. They parked their car on the same side, where no other cars were present, only motorcycles and bicycles.

 

On the opposite side, a sedan approached slowly and crossed the railway tracks. The barriers did not fully obstruct the road, allowing the sedan to pass through. As soon as the sedan cleared the tracks, the train passed by. If the sedan hadn't made it across, it would have been rear-ended by the train, potentially causing severe damage.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Mr. Lek, despite squeezing the brake, did not hear the warnings. When the car finally caught up with him, he rolled down the window and asked, "Didn't you see the train?" Only then did he realize that Mr. Lek was an elderly man engrossed in a phone conversation. The incident served as a warning for senior citizens or drivers who encounter railway crossings with barriers. They must be cautious, look to the left and right, and ensure no trains are approaching before crossing. It is imperative to quickly drive across to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Furthermore, the news reporter visited the scene and met with a woman named Dam, a 67-year-old shopkeeper who had been selling goods in the area for over 20 years. She recounted the event, stating that she saw a sedan successfully cross the railway tracks just moments before the train passed by.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Curious, she noticed a pickup truck parked nearby and approached the sedan's driver. Mr. Lek, the driver of the sedan, claimed not to have heard the train's horn. However, Dam and everyone in the vicinity distinctly heard it. After some conversation, they discovered that at the time of crossing, Mr. Lek was engaged in a phone conversation, leading to the near-miss.

 

This railway crossing has witnessed numerous accidents, but fortunately, most resulted only in injuries and not fatalities. However, there have been fatalities in the past, albeit quite some time ago. This particular incident startled Dam, as it was truly a close call.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-05-22

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[jaideedave]

Come on guys.Is this really a noteworthy even.A near miss? I almost fell off  my Honda PCX last week.I guess I should have contacted Bangkok Post so they could get a reporter or journalist over to report it.

[KannikaP]

He should be banned forever, for potentially endangering train passengers, and using his phone while driving.

[stoner]

this story has pass the buck thai attitude all over it. even in near death the fool still can't accept responsibility for his moronic actions. 

 

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

He Lek stated that he did not hear the train's horn.

 

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mr. Lek, despite squeezing the brake, did not hear the warnings.

why was he squeezing the brake if he did not hear the warnings. this story is so pathetic. 

 

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

Only then did he realize that Mr. Lek was an elderly man engrossed in a phone conversation. The incident served as a warning for senior citizens or drivers who encounter railway crossings with barriers

why target a senior ? this is simply an arrogant self entitled a hole thai man on his phone preoccupied and not paying attention to his surroundings.

 

too bad the train missed. he seems like a worth candidate for the darwin award.

[KannikaP]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

They parked their car on the same side, where no other cars were present, only motorcycles and bicycles.

So when the barriers came down, she parked on the right side of the road saying something about motorcycles. I don't see any. But that blocked the passage of Mr Lek who had saved maybe 30 seconds risking his life, but now had to wait for Ms C to move her car.

I could not see any barrier on the far side of the track.

[NE1]

9 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I could not see any barrier on the far side of the track.

I couldn't at first , but if you look closely it is there , albeit a very small one.

[sammieuk1]

Has anyone ever seen the video where a pickup crashes into the 4th carriage of a passing train on a crossing I cant find it but its an example of just how low driving standards have become here ????  

[ezzra]

This is what happens when the barriers are too short to prevent vehicles crossing, they assume, wrongly, that Thai drivers are patient enough to wait for the train to pass, and when you ASSUME, you make an ASS of U and ME.

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

So when the barriers came down, she parked on the right side of the road saying something about motorcycles. I don't see any. But that blocked the passage of Mr Lek who had saved maybe 30 seconds risking his life, but now had to wait for Ms C to move her car.

I could not see any barrier on the far side of the track.

Have another look.

[Will B Good]

As I quote to the wife driving around.........look........."I Thai, I want to die"....they either have a death wish or total faith in their amulets.

[stoner]

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

just how low driving standards have become here

 have become or always were ? 

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

So when the barriers came down, she parked on the right side of the road saying something about motorcycles. I don't see any.

You shouldn't be on the road, either, if you can't see the barriers, on both sides!

[Moonlover]

* Misquoted post removed *

 

There certainly is a barrier on the far side, but calling either of them a 'barrier' is a bit of a misnomer.

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

This railway crossing has witnessed numerous accidents, but fortunately, most resulted only in injuries and not fatalities.

It's high time 'proper' barriers are installed on this obviously dangerous crossing.

[actonion]

He lives to do it again

[KannikaP]

12 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

There certainly is a barrier on the far side, but calling either of them a 'barrier' is a bit of a misnomer.

 

It's high time 'proper' barriers are installed on this obviously dangerous crossing.

It is only a dangerous crossing for plonkers like this who ignore the barriers.

In reply to Mr Lou, from the dashcam's picture the barrier on the far side was just about visible, it was almost touching the ground, and was way off to the left, hardly crossing the traffic lane.

[Moonlover]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

It is only a dangerous crossing for plonkers like this who ignore the barriers.

In reply to Mr Lou, from the dashcam's picture the barrier on the far side was just about visible, it was almost touching the ground, and was way off to the left, hardly crossing the traffic lane.

When there are a lot of 'plonkers' on the roads it's best to make provision for that, not just leave matters to fate. As mentioned in the post there have been many accidents here in the past.

 

Apathy is no excuse.

[KannikaP]

6 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

When there are a lot of 'plonkers' on the roads it's best to make provision for that, not just leave matters to fate. As mentioned in the post there have been many accidents here in the past.

 

Apathy is no excuse.

I wonder how many trains pass here each day, and how many of the said plonkers try to ignore the barriers and beat the train.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Have another look.

 

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You shouldn't be on the road, either, if you can't see the barriers, on both sides!

 

[KannikaP]

Just now, KannikaP said:

 

Call that a barrier?

[Moonlover]

23 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I wonder how many trains pass here each day, and how many of the said plonkers try to ignore the barriers and beat the train.

It does not matter how many 'plonkers' ignore those pathetically shorts barriers. Solid full width barriers would stop them all. End of problem.

 

Again I say, 'apathy is no excuse'.

[dingdongrb]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

This is what happens when the barriers are too short to prevent vehicles crossing, they assume, wrongly, that Thai drivers are patient enough to wait for the train to pass, and when you ASSUME, you make an ASS of U and ME.

Then ae you suggesting a barrier is needed for all traffic lights too so when they turn red they cannot drive through?

[dingdongrb]

Posts are ridiculous talking about no barriers or the lack of barriers that go completely across the road so that there is no way a vehicle can pass through.

 

Let me ask this, when you cross a road as a pedestrian why isn't there barriers then? Because smart people pay attention to traffic lights as well as looking in both directions to ensure it's safe to cross.

 

Those needing barriers are probably the same ones that need help wiping. 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr. Lek, despite squeezing the brake, did not hear the warnings. When the car finally caught up with him, he rolled down the window and asked, "Didn't you see the train?" Only then did he realize that Mr. Lek was an elderly man engrossed in a phone conversation

Enough said,

however it makes you wonder why they only put the barriers on one side of the tracks... or  can't afford ones that go all the way across the road?

[JeffersLos]

2 hours ago, actonion said:

He lives to do it again

Thus proving there's nothing wrong with it. 

[TigerandDog]

6 hours ago, KannikaP said:

So when the barriers came down, she parked on the right side of the road saying something about motorcycles. I don't see any. But that blocked the passage of Mr Lek who had saved maybe 30 seconds risking his life, but now had to wait for Ms C to move her car.

I could not see any barrier on the far side of the track.

The barrier is there and he drove around it. Look how far he is towards the wrong side of the road. Strange that the car behind him saw it and stopped and you can see it going back up after the train has passed.

[edwinchester]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

 

I see a barrier with a set of lights above.

[KannikaP]

18 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

I see a barrier with a set of lights above.

Yes, I see a barrier almost touching the ground, and so short that any car must go into the middle of the road to pass it. Which is what this plonker did.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

Wouldn't any normal person look both ways before crossing, even if the barrier was up?

[brianthainess]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Only then did he realize that Mr. Lek was an elderly man engrossed in a phone conversation