Van plunges into ravine on Chiang Mai-Pai route

[webfact]

A passenger van on the Chiang Mai-Pai route lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road, plummeting approximately 15 metres into a ravine yesterday evening.

 

The vehicle was extensively damaged and all 14 passengers on board were injured. Emergency services, including local police, hospital medical teams, and military units, were dispatched to the scene to provide assistance and manage the traffic congestion caused by the accident.

 

The accident took place approximately 17 kilometres from the Mae Ping checkpoint in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, on a particularly treacherous stretch of road known for its sharp curves and steep inclines. At the scene, authorities discovered the van, operated by a company that regularly transports tourists, including foreign passengers aged between 19 and 28, travelling from Chiang Mai towards the district of Pai.

 

by Nattapong Westwood 

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-09

 

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[2baht]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

A passenger van on the Chiang Mai-Pai route lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road

Oh? It was a male van???

[worgeordie]

That's a very dangerous road ,very steep ,lots of bends, and vehicles

coming around the bend on your side of the road ,on the way down

you can see most vehicles with brake lights on all the way ,instead

of using low gears ,

 

regards worgeordie

 

[Mike Lister]

From the article, it appears to be the same company that was involved in a fatal accident a few weeks ago, on the same road. If you've seen how their vans are driven on the 107, it will come as no surprise.

 

[HauptmannUK]

Apparently about 2000 bends on that road. Vans and pickups driven by the usual suicide jockeys...

[FritsSikkink]

45 minutes ago, HauptmannUK said:

Apparently about 2000 bends on that road. Vans and pickups driven by the usual suicide jockeys...

762, Chiang Mai - Pai

1864 for the Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Song loop 

[Maejo Man]

The Chiangmai-Mae- Hong Son road is one of the most challenging roads in Thailand, and needs complete concentration all the way!!

[khunjake]

One would think with the countless tragic “accidents” just in this past year that some changes would be made regarding road and driver safety but nothing ever changes here does it. With the countless casualties from buses and vans all operated by morons and yaba-induced lunatics, anyone getting on these is simplytaking their lives for a spin on the wheel of death. 

[The Old Bull]

Lucky it was only 15 metres lots of places on that road could have been 150 metres.

[brianthainess]

Before even clicking on the story I knew Bends and hills were involved. 

[khunpeer]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

That's a very dangerous road ,very steep ,lots of bends, and vehicles

coming around the bend on your side of the road ,on the way down

you can see most vehicles with brake lights on all the way ,instead

of using low gears ,

 

regards worgeordie

 

the breaking lights are on nonstop because automatic transmission.

that road I drive up&down for many years, every other weekend! it's not the ideal road to drive but I don't call it dangerous. keep distance and don't drive fast! 2 main ingrediënts for a smooth safe ride!

my daughter's school has just finished so we drive to Pai now! 🙂

[rudi49jr]

1 hour ago, Maejo Man said:

The Chiangmai-Mae- Hong Son road is one of the most challenging roads in Thailand, and needs complete concentration all the way!!

When you’re driving a car or minivan as fast (and incompetent) as most Thai drive, that is certainly true. I have done the Mae Hong Son loop a few times on my motorbike, going maybe 50/60 kilometers an hour at the most, making a 3-4 day trip of it, and I found it quite relaxing. Not a lot of traffic most of the time and in between looking ahead and in the rear view mirrors so as to spot potentially crazy drivers well in time, there’s plenty of time to admire to gorgeous scenery. The challenging road is part of the fun, but you have to keep your wits about you and stay alert. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

32 minutes ago, khunpeer said:

the breaking lights are on nonstop because automatic transmission.

that road I drive up&down for many years, every other weekend! it's not the ideal road to drive but I don't call it dangerous. keep distance and don't drive fast! 2 main ingrediënts for a smooth safe ride!

my daughter's school has just finished so we drive to Pai now! 🙂

Auto gear boxes on most Thai built cars can be manually selected to engage a lower gear but drivers do not understand the use for hill descents.

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, worgeordie said:

That's a very dangerous road ,very steep ,lots of bends, and vehicles

coming around the bend on your side of the road ,on the way down

you can see most vehicles with brake lights on all the way ,instead

of using low gears ,

 

regards worgeordie

 

Yeah, and the there comes the brake failure....😂

[NextG]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Yeah, and the there comes the brake failure....😂

It’s exactly what happened. The driver had an incident earlier on in the proceedings with another vehicle. They exchanged details and carried on with the journey, until it was discovered that the brakes didn’t work on a downhill section… 

[metisdead]

Posts with a trolling image contravening our Community Standards have been removed.

 

 A post contravening our fair use policy has been removed.

 

 

[2baht]

20 hours ago, worgeordie said:

That's a very dangerous road ,very steep ,lots of bends, and vehicles

coming around the bend on your side of the road ,on the way down

you can see most vehicles with brake lights on all the way ,instead

of using low gears ,

 

regards worgeordie

 

They never have fully grasped the concept of the horseless carriage!

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, NextG said:

It’s exactly what happened. The driver had an incident earlier on in the proceedings with another vehicle. They exchanged details and carried on with the journey, until it was discovered that the brakes didn’t work on a downhill section… 

So the same as always. It's too sad. 

[pumba]

This mini bus was carrying 13 young Danish people aged 19 to 24 years, going to a full moon party. Several of them broke their backs in this crash. The driver himself was killed in the crash.

It should somehow be mandatory to have a first section or even on the cover of guide books, to inform, that this is a third world country and many things are truly wonderful in Thailand, but there are generally no safety measures for anything and especially traffic can likely kill you. 
But it is difficult to inform and have young people actually care about warnings, especially when you want to go partying.

 

Thailand should pass a law, only allowing middle aged female drivers, honestly!