A 13-year-old boy lost his life in a tragic accident early today caused by a reckless U-turn from a pickup truck on Sukhumvit Road near Aum Rak Animal Hospital in Samet, Mueang District, Chon Buri. Police and emergency services were called to the scene around 7:30 a.m., where they discovered the severely injured body of Thanakorn, a middle school student.

 

The boy suffered multiple injuries, including a broken neck, ribs, arms and legs, with tire marks suggesting he'd been run over. Close to the scene, a damaged black Isuzu D-Max pickup truck with Bangkok plates was found. A white Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck, also having Bangkok plates, was found similarly damaged. The boy’s Yamaha motorcycle, registered in Prachinburi, lay in the middle of the road, smashed into a pile of metal.

 

Eyewitnesses stated that the black Isuzu D-Max was driving from Sukhumvit Road towards Ang Sila, with the boy travelling the same route on his motorcycle. As the truck made an illegal U-turn, it hit the motorcycle, throwing the boy into the opposite lane where the white Mitsubishi Triton struck him.

 

Local residents pointed out that the site of the accident is not a regulated U-turn spot and has resulted in numerous accidents before. They are urging drivers to respect traffic rules and only make U-turns at marked points to avoid accidents.

 

The precise cause of the crash is yet to be determined by the police. They will question both pickup truck drivers and review CCTV footage as part of the ongoing investigation.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-06-11

 

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RIP to the boy, and throw everything at the reckless and stupid pick-up driver. However, 13 year old again on motorbike in traffic. When are parents going to take their responsibility. All accidents and deaths stemming from such things should automatically put both parents in jail for 3 months. Maybe they would learn something.

Very sorry to read that RIP but riding a bike at 13???

I've been here quite some time and tend to take Bangkok traffic with equanimity while at the same time recognizing that I should be terrified. Every day, I see countless incidents of people breaking the law, running red lights, making illegal U-turns, motorcycles and going the wrong way down one-way streets (and even cars sometimes), driving on the sidewalks. When I have to cross the street at a pedestrian crosswalk, it often turns into a sprint because some motorcycle will come barrelling down the street with no intention of stopping. It's a miracle that there aren't many more accidents than there are.

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

throw everything at the reckless and stupid pick-up driver.

 

Everything meaning a wai and flowers?  That is the main and underlying problem here in LOS, that nobody really cares enough to DO anything about this type of injustice!

 

My bet is that driver will be back on the roads again in a few days, doing what they normally do, drive like complete frigging idiots, with impunity.

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

RIP to the boy, and throw everything at the reckless and stupid pick-up driver. However, 13 year old again on motorbike in traffic. When are parents going to take their responsibility. All accidents and deaths stemming from such things should automatically put both parents in jail for 3 months. Maybe they would learn something.

 

It would be very harsh to jail a grieving parent.

Fines and campaigns would do it (especially fines).

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Local residents pointed out that the site of the accident is not a regulated U-turn spot and has resulted in numerous accidents before. They are urging drivers to respect traffic rules and only make U-turns at marked points to avoid accidents

 

Allowing U-turns anywhere into oncoming traffic is dangerous.

 

That's why clever societies have roundabouts. 

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Allowing U-turns anywhere into oncoming traffic is dangerous.

 

That's why clever societies have roundabouts. 

 

You are right about roundabouts, only that they don't work in Thailand with their selfish drivers.

 

Look at the disaster the dolphin roundabout is, and there was one on jomtien second road, which since also has been removed because it was a disaster.

 

In my opinion u-turns are not that bad, given that they are constructed in the correct way.

 

This means no 2 direction u-turns, because the view get blocked by those using the u-turn from the apposite direction, and making it life-threatening.

 

Secondly, so many u-turns I have seen the view is blocked by traffic or other signs. Obviously, the road designers in Thailand still have to learn a lot. Most of the time I actually wonder if it is just the local somtam seller who get the job.

 

Definitely, those who designed thepprasit road should be thrown in jail for what they created there.

1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

You are right about roundabouts, only that they don't work in Thailand with their selfish drivers.

 

I did say clever societies.

59 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

It would be very harsh to jail a grieving parent.

Fines and campaigns would do it (especially fines).

I think he means before the event.

Same old story - enforcement.  If there was proper enforcement there would be no 13 year old kids riding motorbikes and car/pick up drivers would drive to a better standard.

 

In most countries, a few tragedys would spur some form of action.  In Thailand all that happens is some talk about new laws, road safety campaigns bla bla bla......... but that's all that happens, talk. Two weeks later, all is forgotten until the next time. Never mind, fill out this accident report sir.

 

Meanwhile the police sit in their offices eating Som Tam.

1 hour ago, rattlesnake said:

 

It would be very harsh to jail a grieving parent.

Fines and campaigns would do it (especially fines).

Yeah, and it was also very harsh of the parents to let a 13 year old out in traffic on a motorbike.

10 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, and it was also very harsh of the parents to let a 13 year old out in traffic on a motorbike.

 

In Thailand people start riding motorcycle since they turn 6 years old. And if you look at any school for 8 - 12 years old kids you will see covered up parking spots for motorcycles full of motorcycles. This is just a way of life here. Complaining about 13 years old riding motorcycles is just cringe. Same as farangs that complains about street dogs, high heat or Isaan farmers not being able to speak English to them.

 

I think at 7.3k post you should know better.

 

 

Here is a video of it. Warning, shocking content.

 

Reckless U-turn + reckless driving by the kid.

https://www.facebook.com/onenews31/videos/445774085072390

11 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

Here is a video of it. Warning, shocking content.

 

Reckless U-turn + reckless driving by the kid.

https://www.facebook.com/onenews31/videos/445774085072390

 

solid effort !!

 

1. 13yr old should not be riding a bike.

2. what was he thinking doing that overtake manouver !

There are much younger boys riding motorbikes away from the main roads in the small streets and alleys 

of housing areas with no police in sight, so no wonder that such an accident happens when they venture

out to the main roads.. what can be done? nothing, this is the way of life in many Thai communities...

Saw the video. Did the man drive dangerously? Yes. Did the boy (RIP) ride dangerously? Yes.

 

I don't know how much to blame either party. Almost killed a woman on a motorbike once. She swerved into my lane (right, fast) to make a James Bond style u-turn. Slammed the brakes and just missed hitting her bike.

 

 

 

the boy's driving style was asking for something happen ... sooner or later!

 

 

 

8 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

I've been here quite some time and tend to take Bangkok traffic with equanimity while at the same time recognizing that I should be terrified. Every day, I see countless incidents of people breaking the law, running red lights, making illegal U-turns, motorcycles and going the wrong way down one-way streets (and even cars sometimes), driving on the sidewalks. When I have to cross the street at a pedestrian crosswalk, it often turns into a sprint because some motorcycle will come barrelling down the street with no intention of stopping. It's a miracle that there aren't many more accidents than there are.

Agreed.

I had reason to take my small M/C into town and back yesterday and had 2 incidents requiring me to take evasive action.... both Bangkok plated pickups, although one looked like a company vehicle. It is getting more dangerous out there with more traffic than the town can handle and a complete absence of policing. 

After watching the video  13 year old boy was 95% at fault  ,no helmet shouldn't have even been on the road in the first place.

At 13 he like most kids lack road sense, riding skill and think they are invincible  driving like a video game   R.I.P

8 hours ago, AnotherOneHere said:

 

In Thailand people start riding motorcycle since they turn 6 years old. And if you look at any school for 8 - 12 years old kids you will see covered up parking spots for motorcycles full of motorcycles. This is just a way of life here. Complaining about 13 years old riding motorcycles is just cringe. Same as farangs that complains about street dogs, high heat or Isaan farmers not being able to speak English to them.

 

I think at 7.3k post you should know better.

 

 

Yeah, they do, but is it sensible to do such thing? Basically nothing of the things you compare with has the same danger and risks involved. So, not at all same! Besides that, there is a law, that tells at what age you can drive and what you can drive at specific age.

But, at only 95 posts, you are forgiven for not knowing better.

10 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Allowing U-turns anywhere into oncoming traffic is dangerous.

 

That's why clever societies have roundabouts. 

No - dear god - no roundabouts. In the west of Thailand (Kanchanaburi, Uthaithani, Tak) you find many more roundabouts - probably due to British influence in the Burmese road system tbh. And using them is a total nightmare as no-one seems to have a clue as to how to use indicators or how to go around them or get off them - people stop randomly to let other onto the roundabout. and once I have seen motorcycles go the wrong way around the dam things - no. Thailand and roundabouts do not mix. 

There are an average of about 60 people dying on the roads in Thailand EVERY DAY.  I don't know what makes some deaths newsworthy than others, because this was a very typical accident - it involved an underaged rider on a motorcycle, a combination that is statistically over-represented in traffic fatalities.  

 

Will fall on deaf ears, even the RTP abuse traffic laws here, and will enforce none of them. This is Thailand, the land of selfish people, who care nothing for safety (theirs or anyone else's).

 

Quote

Local residents pointed out that the site of the accident is not a regulated U-turn spot and has resulted in numerous accidents before. They are urging drivers to respect traffic rules and only make U-turns at marked points to avoid accidents.

 

8 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

Here is a video of it. Warning, shocking content.

 

Reckless U-turn + reckless driving by the kid.

https://www.facebook.com/onenews31/videos/445774085072390

Now could how many traffic crimes you see being committed in that short video

13 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, and it was also very harsh of the parents to let a 13 year old out in traffic on a motorbike.

 

Two working parents with limited income in a nation that has no social safety net, has easy finance on motorbikes and a police force that doesn't enforce the law, may not have the luxury of being able to drive their kids to school.

 

I know I can't.

4 hours ago, jonclark said:

No - dear god - no roundabouts. In the west of Thailand (Kanchanaburi, Uthaithani, Tak) you find many more roundabouts - probably due to British influence in the Burmese road system tbh. And using them is a total nightmare as no-one seems to have a clue as to how to use indicators or how to go around them or get off them - people stop randomly to let other onto the roundabout. and once I have seen motorcycles go the wrong way around the dam things - no. Thailand and roundabouts do not mix. 

 

+1

Back when I was living in Phuket, there was a roundabout in Chalong which was (and probably still is) notoriously one of the most dangerous intersections on the island.

21 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Two working parents with limited income in a nation that has no social safety net, has easy finance on motorbikes and a police force that doesn't enforce the law, may not have the luxury of being able to drive their kids to school.

 

I know I can't.

First, it usually costs more in gasoline per month to drive motorbike to school to school than a monthly fee. The cheaper solution is to use public transport or special songtaews or wans that collect and drive kids to school. Almost all schools that have kids who do not have walking distance to school have such services.

After all that, I must congratulate you on, as a foreigner, staying in Thailand with kids and no have time or money to drive them to school. Amazing!

15 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

Here is a video of it. Warning, shocking content.

 

Reckless U-turn + reckless driving by the kid.

https://www.facebook.com/onenews31/videos/445774085072390

He should (black pickup) be charged with manslaughter. Illegal U-turn from the left lane, for pete's sake.

51 minutes ago, Peabody said:

He should (black pickup) be charged with manslaughter. Illegal U-turn from the left lane, for pete's sake.

The vid seems to have been deleted  but I didn't see the black pickup doing a uturn from the left lane  he was in the right hand lane  and  13 year old kid tries to overtake   with not much room  just as  black pickup makes the turn   13 year old kid and bike bounces off the black pickup  right into the path of white pickup  coming in the opposite direction  no time to avoid a collision, ran straight over the kid.