Hong Kong policeman’s fatal fall from baht bus sparks safety outcry

[webfact]

Pattaya Tourist Police are offering comprehensive support to the widow of a Hong Kong policeman who tragically lost his life after falling off a baht bus on Pattaya Second Road on July 22. The shocking incident has catapulted road safety in Pattaya into the national spotlight.

 

The grieving widow is receiving assistance from police to navigate the investigation and manage claims for damages. The baht bus in question is insured under the Motor Vehicle Accident Victim Protection Act and additional voluntary insurance, with death cases covered up to 500,000 baht per policy.

 

The deceased, Chi Fai Lam, will be repatriated to Hong Kong for funeral rites, a process being coordinated by the Pattaya Tourist Police and the Chinese Embassy. Meanwhile, the baht bus driver has been detained and questioned by investigators from the Pattaya City Police Station. The driver faces charges of reckless driving causing death and failing to stop to provide assistance or identify oneself to the police after causing damage.

 

This incident has prompted swift action from local police. The Pattaya Tourist Police, in collaboration with the Pattaya City Police Station, is set to meet with baht bus operators to reinforce safety protocols and prevent future tragedies, reported Pattaya Mail.

ORIGINAL STORY: Chinese man dies after falling off baht bus in Pattaya

 

A Thai baht bus driver in Pattaya denied any knowledge of an accident in which a Chinese man fell from his vehicle and later died.

 

Locals in Pattaya condemned the baht bus driver, later identified as Thongchai Thonglueng, for his alleged cruel behaviour after he left the 48 year old Chinese man, Chi Fai Lam, lying in a pool of blood on Pattaya Sai 2 Road on the morning of July 22. Witnesses rushed the Chinese national to hospital but he succumbed to his injuries.

 

Security camera footage showed the Chinese man falling from the dark blue baht bus but the driver sped away without checking on him. The vehicle’s registration plate was identified as 10-6324, and the driver was later identified to be Thongchai.

 

Thongchai was summoned to Mueang Pattaya Police Station for questioning that afternoon. He insisted that he was unaware his passenger fell from his vehicle.

 

Thongchai explained that he picked up seven to eight passengers from the Dolphin Roundabout and dropped them off at Pattaya Walking Street. He checked the passengers in his rear-view mirror and saw that no one remained. He claimed he did not know when the Chinese man boarded his vehicle or when he fell off.

 

A witness, 56 year old motorcycle rider Sriprai, told Matichon that many people shouted at the baht bus, asking the driver to stop but he ignored them and sped away.

 

Police did not reveal the next steps in their investigation and did not clarify what legal action would be taken against Thongchai.

 

RELATED TOPIC

Chinese Tourist Dies After Falling From Songthaew In Pattaya 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1333594-chinese-tourist-dies-after-falling-from-songthaew-in-pattaya/

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal 
Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-26

 

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[scubascuba3]

500k death compensation is nothing for a foreigner

[Skipalongcassidy]

Darwin rules the world... let's make all riders put on helmets before boarding a baht bus that might keep the idiots safer.

[pattjock]

I'm not sure if he was standing on the step behind the bahtbus when he fell off, but that is very likely. It has been illegal for passengers to use these steps while the bahtbus is moving for a long time now, but as with most Thai laws this has never been enforced.

[bkkcanuck8]

9 minutes ago, pattjock said:

I'm not sure if he was standing on the step behind the bahtbus when he fell off, but that is very likely. It has been illegal for passengers to use these steps while the bahtbus is moving for a long time now, but as with most Thai laws this has never been enforced.

The fact that the driver did not notice someone falling of the baht bus steps onto the pavement - seem plausible (especially since he did not notify the driver that he was leaving 🤣).  When you see people getting on and off all the time, you don't register if they are there or not... you only register if someone rings to leave... you stop... and wait for payment.  Seems like a freak accident to me, and a bit of the passenger not being responsible for his own safety.  I don't know why he would be standing on the stairs - since the vehicle was empty, and I don't see how he would have been ejected from the seat.   Sorry, but you can not protect people from their own stupidity without making the experience worse for everyone else.

Edited July 25 by bkkcanuck8

[steven100]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

he did not know when the Chinese man boarded his vehicle or when he fell off.

 

The driver said he didn't know when the guy fell out the back .... 

 

Those roundabouts can be a bit tricky at high speed ....

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The shocking incident has catapulted road safety in Pattaya into the national spotlight.

Shouldn't that be nationwide, why just Pattaya.

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He claimed he did not know when the Chinese man boarded his vehicle or when he fell off.

BS, that's their job, hardly anyone ever gets on and off a baht bus without paying, he knew what happened.

I'm sure the other passengers would have let him know, and if the baht bus was empty he would have surely known.

[loong]

1 hour ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Darwin rules the world... let's make all riders put on helmets before boarding a baht bus that might keep the idiots safer.

You are obviously privy to more information than the rest of us.
Kindly relate what you know that makes you believe that the person was an idiot.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

500k death compensation is nothing for a foreigner

That's what foreigners who die mean to Thailand...

[Deez]

Still third world safety mind set here.

[bkkcanuck8]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

That's what foreigners who die mean to Thailand...

Yes, and that is why the foreigners estate should pay Thailand for loss of tourist revenue... 🤣

[bkkcanuck8]

11 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Shouldn't that be nationwide, why just Pattaya.

 

Probably because where I am, you don't have a bunch of inebriated foreigners getting on and of Songthaews and then going splat.  I use them often where I live and I have never felt unsafe on them from being flung off the back... but then, I don't drink and ride on them.  Maybe the songthaews in Pattaya should just forbid foreigners from taking them - and force them to call a grab cab.

[rocketboy2]

All looked very self-inflicted from the clip. he stepped off a moving baht bus.

Lucky to get any compo.

R.I.P  Mr. policeman.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 25 by rocketboy2

[keithkarmann]

Time to stop school kids from hanging off the back of songthews. Safety is not considered a priority in Thailand.

[2long]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

500k death compensation is nothing for a foreigner

It says 'per policy' so it could possibly be even less than 500k if other claims have happened.

I'm not sure though.

[Sydebolle]

I witnesses, more than once, people (kids from a "school bus") falling off the "platform" at the back of the "school bus". Luckily nothing serious happened but maybe it is time to take the taxi mafia out of the race and put a proper public transport system ..... also into Pattaya. 

If it would have been a local, the incident would have died down within hours on a local news level; it takes internationalism to earmark yet another third-world-problem of this country ........ 

[kuzmabruk]

1 hour ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Darwin rules the world... let's make all riders put on helmets before boarding a baht bus that might keep the idiots safer.

Don’t forget seatbelts for those seated and handcuffed to the railings for the people standing

[2baht]

25 minutes ago, loong said:

You are obviously privy to more information than the rest of us.
Kindly relate what you know that makes you believe that the person was an idiot.

Geniuses. as a rule, don't ride or drive baht busses on Beach Road! If you know one, let me know!

[Skipalongcassidy]

6 minutes ago, keithkarmann said:

Time to stop school kids from hanging off the back of songthews. Safety is not considered a priority in Thailand.

Right... I have no idea how soooo many kids in the more civilized world survived their childhoods without bicycle helmets... safety caps on medicine... etc... etc ad naseum... 

[Classic Ray]

If they were constructed properly as a public service vehicle instead of being modified building materials haulers, there would be an element of safety.

 

Rear doors, with an interlock to prevent the bus moving or sound an alarm could easily be fitted to prevent passengers falling out of the back. 
 

But since profit trumps safety here, nothing will be done.

[Skipalongcassidy]

1 minute ago, Classic Ray said:

If they were constructed properly as a public service vehicle instead of being modified building materials haulers, there would be an element of safety.

 

Rear doors, with an interlock to prevent the bus moving or sound an alarm could easily be fitted to prevent passengers falling out of the back. 
 

But since profit trumps safety here, nothing will be done.

Classic "nanny" stater... what happened to self awareness?

[stoner]

1 hour ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Darwin rules the world... let's make all riders put on helmets before boarding a baht bus that might keep the idiots safer.

 

since we are forwarding crazy ideas. lets make all motorcycle riders wear helmets too.  

[sammieuk1]

Before you leave the driver wants his 20 baht 🤔

[2baht]

2 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Right... I have no idea how soooo many kids in the more civilized world survived their childhoods without bicycle helmets... safety caps on medicine... etc... etc ad naseum... 

The civilized world generally gives kids a half decent education! Thailand on the other hand...................?

[newbee2022]

Again the lack of safety is a subject in Thailand causing this fatal accident.

In other areas we have a working public transport system with regular buses. But here we have mafia like structures who rule many levels in public life.

Now this accident will create some attention and after a few days...business as usual.

[2baht]

1 minute ago, stoner said:

 

since we are forwarding crazy ideas. lets make all motorcycle riders wear helmets too.  

Get real, how can the chicks see how handsome Kh Daeng is he has to cover up with a helmet!

[Korat Kiwi]

From the video it looks like the driver possibly wasn't aware that either the passenger wanted to disembark or simply fell off. 

 

The baht bus didn't stop to let him off,  that's quite evident. 

[bob smith]

Driver should be charged with manslaughter, 15-20 in the slammer.

 

no questions asked.

 

bob.

[Skipalongcassidy]

4 minutes ago, 2baht said:

The civilized world generally gives kids a half decent education! 

Do you really believe that... especially after reading one of tug's posts???  The Literacy Crisis in the U.S. is Deeply Concerning—and Totally Preventable - The Education Trust (edtrust.org)