Hit-and-Run Tragedy: Two Cyclists Dead, Four Injured in Early Morning Incident

[NorthernRyland]

16 minutes ago, James105 said:

I used to cycle 5 miles to work and back every single day in the chaos of London roads and traffic, which feels infinitely safer than even considering riding a bicycle on Thai roads.   There just doesn't seem to be much respect for life here on the roads as drink driving is normalised and there is not much consequence for doing so.  

 

This video is worth sharing again. If you haven't seen it notice the trunk has no intent of slowing down. That's because there are no rules of the road so people default to law of the jungle aka "me first".

 

 

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Two cyclists tragically lost their lives, and others sustained injuries when a speeding pickup truck crashed into a group of cyclists in a hit-and-run incident.

It should be considered also in any investigation that they were murdered by a deliberate act (manslaughter), not just "losing" their lives. 

Edited October 6, 2023 by Srikcir
Typos

[Gandtee]

Dawn and dusk is the most dangerous time. A time when judging distances is harder to judge. I was taught in the army, when rifle shooting, 'Light's up, sights up. -Light's down, sights down. Did all of the cyclists have effective rear lights? I rode a bike here up till I was seventy five. Never in the dark. It was dangerous enough in daylight. R.I.P. and condolences to the relatives.

Edited October 6, 2023 by Gandtee
added words

[shackleton]

How many times have we read about cyclists being killed on Thai roads 

I remember the guy cycling around the World  ended when he was cycling in Thailand ????

[nickmondo]

I gave up cycling here after a dog ran into my front wheel near Majestic Golf Club, Hua Hin.  It was a domestic dog, and the Thai owners found it hilarious.  But I am recovered now, and they are still fat and ugly.

Also too many close calls with idiot drivers who like nothing better than to overtake you and then turn hard left, just to cut you up..........this happens when on a motorbike also.

This country is way too dangerouse for cycling...........never again.

Very sad loss of life in this instance, poor buggers supposed to be enjoying retirement.

[stix40]

I wouldn't ride a bike in Thailand ! 

Some apauling drivers here ! You have to be on ya guard all the time on the road .

2 wheels in Thailand, Accident waiting to happen ????

[Adumbration]

Cycling on any road in Thailand, especially at pre-predawn, it tantamount to suicide.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Let's hope that there is a civic minded person out there who knows of an Isuzu pick up that has incurred recent frontal damage and shops the owner to the police.

One hopes a concerned citizen comes forward with some news.

[retarius]

Not very smart to cycle in the darkness.

[Mr Meeseeks]

Hit and running is a national sport. 

 

I can understand not wanting to stop, out of fear you will be attacked or beaten, but if you don't turn yourself in immediately afterwards i.e. drive directly to the nearest Police station then you are hiding something or trying to evade capture and this should incur a long jail sentence.

[Purdey]

So difficult to decide.

Health or death?

My doctor asks if I exercise and I say that I cycle at weekends. She asks isn't that dangerous, I tell her that the Railway Park has a lot of accidents but no deaths. 

Why would anyone cycle on a main road? 

[smew]

RIP; sad/// did they have lights?, at 05:00 still dark 

[chiman]

Speeding pickup in a reoccurring theme driving in TH for the last 17 years.  Tailgating, overloaded, zig zagging thru traffic, speeding with no regard for human life... 

[smedly]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The unidentified driver, who fled the scene amidst the pre-dawn darkness, is yet to be apprehended, raising questions about whether the driver was intoxicated or asleep at the wheel

or using a phone or speeding or any combination

 

anyone riding a bicycle on these lawless thai roads need their head looked at

 

hope they catch the scum that did this and lock him up for a very long time

 

RIP very sad

[Deez]

RIP.   Obviously harsher penalties are needed for reckless driving. Even if they don't cause accident or injuries.

[Kalasin Jo]

2 hours ago, sirineou said:

what a tragedy, mu heart goes out to the lady in the picture crying, and to the family and friends of the victims.

Just this morning I was telling my wife that as soon as it cools down a bit we should start going riding again, and she shai that she did not want to because she thought it was too dangerous, and that we should buy a stationary bike. 

Your wife is right.

[trainman34014]

RIP those lost and a speedy rceovery to the injured.    Not the first time and won't be the last on Thailands crazy roads.

I ride daily; mainly on quiet backroads and Country Lanes but have had a few near misses in the last 17 years, normally from Thai's cutting off bends and corners, they seem oblivious to the fact that there maybe someone coming the other way !   As for riding in the dark....forget it !

[smedly]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Many accidents can be avoided if you just pay more attention and consider your actions more.

how naive, consider their actions more ?, people who break the law will continue to do it while they can get away with it, it is why we have laws and the police to enforce them, if there are no polce then you may as well have no laws, equally if you have police and they are not enforcing the law - same result, this country considers everything "after the fact" there is no attempt at prevention 

 

 

[off road pat]

5 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Let's hope that there is a civic minded person out there who knows of an Isuzu pick up that has incurred recent frontal damage and shops the owner to the police.

The driver already gave himself up at the police, he is a high military !!

[NorthernRyland]

58 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Why would anyone cycle on a main road? 

it's nigh impossible to avoid some main roads in most areas even if it's just a few kilos to get to a quieter road.

[off road pat]

33 minutes ago, smedly said:

or using a phone or speeding or any combination

 

anyone riding a bicycle on these lawless thai roads need their head looked at

 

hope they catch the scum that did this and lock him up for a very long time

 

RIP very sad

The driver already gave himself up at the police, he is a high military !! (Major)

[impulse]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Hit and running is a national sport. 

 

I can understand not wanting to stop, out of fear you will be attacked or beaten, but if you don't turn yourself in immediately afterwards i.e. drive directly to the nearest Police station then you are hiding something or trying to evade capture and this should incur a long jail sentence.

I recall reading many years ago that Thai law allows for leaving the scene, conceding that vigilante justice is quite common.  As I recall, they're required to turn themselves in within a specified time (or distance). 

 

Does anyone know the current law around leaving the scene?  (No guessing, no Thai bashing, and no moralizing, please)

 

[gomangosteen]

From Daily News

 

The driver of the pickup truck Col. Chatpetch (last name reserved), aged 50 years, surrendered to authorities at Chalermprakiat Police Station.

He was tested for alcohol and a reading of 0.04% - under the limit of 0.05%

Edited October 6, 2023 by gomangosteen

[spidermike007]

The murderer will be found. It is a shame there is no law against fleeing from the scene of a crime here. Would like to see an extra 20 years tacked onto his sentence. Or, how about the death penalty, without the need of a long and costly trial? 

[RobU]

6 hours ago, connda said:

When I bike I always have the hair on my neck stand up as cars approach (figuratively).  Trust me - I'm extremely aware of two things:  1) Thais lack driving skills and 2) a bicyclist is no safer than a dog who dares to wander onto the road.

Then - get out and drive at Zero-Dark Thirty on a Thai road?  Most bicyclists who drive in the dark, even if they have their little lights and little flashing blinker, simply are immensely difficult to see. 

"You're an anti-bike car lovering cyclist-hater.  Arrgghh."

Not at all.  A bicycle was my ONLY transportation in University (I was dirt poor), and I'd routinely put 30 miles a day on the bike, much of that at night on US roads.  Driving on US roads at night was dangerous.  Imho, driving in the dark in Thailand is deadly.  Case in point - right here. 

Me too, however I had accommodation more than 5 miles from Uni, which I had been resident in more than one year before I began my degree course, so my grant was increased by £50 per term for 3 years in the 1980's when university education was free and you got a cost of living grant. I bought 2 brand new high quality racing bikes over that period just on the basis of £150 per year

[ripstanley]

RIP to the riders. I used to ride but only on a lonely road and in daylight. 

[edwinchester]

4 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No excuse for a hit-and-run but...

riding in the early morning hours when it's still nearly dark and riding in groups. Maybe they were going around a curve while taking up the entire lane and the driver didn't have time to react as they were going around a curve while taking up the entire lane. 

I used to ride with a couple of the local cycling clubs and can say they were all very responsible riders, rode single file except when overtaking and all had front and rear lights on their bicycles. They know more than any foreigner the danger to cyclists on Thai roads and regularly advised me of those dangers.

If you don't have time to react to a hazard when taking a bend you're driving too fast simple as that.

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, gomangosteen said:

From Daily News

 

The driver of the pickup truck Col. Chatpetch (last name reserved), aged 50 years, surrendered to authorities at Chalermprakiat Police Station.

He was tested for alcohol and a reading of 0.04% - under the limit of 0.05%

Waited until he sobered up and turned himself in.

 

Back as a cockroach in the next life buddy!

[MangoKorat]

6 hours ago, James105 said:

1. You are victim blaming here.

2. The second photo shows they were on a very straight road.  

3. It's (normally) safer to ride in a group as they would be a lot more visible than a solo rider. 

4. If someone is incapable of seeing 6 cyclists in a group on a road they are either too drunk or too blind to be driving so it's not the cyclists that should not have been using the road.   

Naaa come off it.  I'm not making any excuses for the driver but Thailand's roads can be extremely dark - I've lost count of the times I've almost cleaned a motorbike up - the usual no lights, not even a reflector variety. Its just a matter of time.  There's also been quite a lot of early morning mist around recently.

 

We have quite a lot of early morning cyclists around Khao Yai but I've never come across one in the dark........yet.

 

I wouldn't dream of riding a push bike in Thailand during the day, let alone at night.

[MangoKorat]

3 hours ago, off road pat said:

he is a high military !! (Major)

So the arrest will probably be the last that's heard of the matter.