Private car blocks emergency vehicle, patient dies in Samut Prakan

[snoop1130]

 

Yesterday, November 3, at roughly 9.30pm, a car obstructed an emergency vehicle in Samut Prakan, ultimately resulting in a patient’s death. Despite lights and sirens, the car’s driver refused to yield for over a minute, causing delays for the rescue team.

 

The incident, which was captured on video and shared online, shows the emergency vehicle from Samut Prakan City Municipality attempting to navigate through Praksa Road en route to an emergency. However, the vehicle was delayed by a Honda car that occupied the rightmost lane, ignoring the flashing lights and sirens of the rescue vehicle.

 

The incident took place yesterday as the emergency team was responding to a call regarding an unconscious patient. Nakhon Rattanaprapasala, part of the rescue team, recounted their experience as they rushed the patient to the hospital.

 

The Honda car not only failed to yield but also occasionally braked abruptly in front of the rescue vehicle, forcing the team to manoeuvre around it. Nakhon, expressed frustration over the situation, stating that despite using a microphone to announce their need for the right of way, the car remained unmoved.

 

He explained that the delay lasted about one minute before the team could finally find an opening to bypass the car at the entrance of Phut Si Soi, also known as Soi 7 Praksa. Unfortunately, by the time they reached the patient, it was too late.

 

The video of the incident quickly gained traction online, drawing a significant amount of comments from the public. Many expressed their concerns and frustrations over the lack of cooperation from some road users in emergencies.

 

Rattanaprapasala urged other drivers to be more considerate when they see emergency vehicles, stressing the importance of every second in life-threatening situations.

 

The family of the deceased patient was informed of the circumstances but they chose not to take legal action against the driver.

 

Sukanya Sukklin, another member of the rescue team, also shared her perspective on the incident. She explained that all other vehicles moved aside to allow the emergency vehicle to pass, except for the Honda. Sukklin decided to record the event on her phone as it became clear the driver would not yield.

 

Sukklin emphasised the importance of viewing every road user as a family member, urging a collective sense of responsibility to prevent unnecessary losses.

 

By Ryan Turner

Image courtesy of Sanook

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-04

 

 

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Yesterday, November 3, at roughly 9.30pm, a car obstructed an emergency vehicle in Samut Prakan, ultimately resulting in a patient’s death. Despite lights and sirens, the car’s driver refused to yield for over a minute, causing delays for the rescue team.

 

The incident, which was captured on video and shared online, shows the emergency vehicle from Samut Prakan City Municipality attempting to navigate through Praksa Road en route to an emergency. However, the vehicle was delayed by a Honda car that occupied the rightmost lane, ignoring the flashing lights and sirens of the rescue vehicle.

 

The incident took place yesterday as the emergency team was responding to a call regarding an unconscious patient. Nakhon Rattanaprapasala, part of the rescue team, recounted their experience as they rushed the patient to the hospital.

 

The Honda car not only failed to yield but also occasionally braked abruptly in front of the rescue vehicle, forcing the team to manoeuvre around it. Nakhon, expressed frustration over the situation, stating that despite using a microphone to announce their need for the right of way, the car remained unmoved.

 

He explained that the delay lasted about one minute before the team could finally find an opening to bypass the car at the entrance of Phut Si Soi, also known as Soi 7 Praksa. Unfortunately, by the time they reached the patient, it was too late.

 

The video of the incident quickly gained traction online, drawing a significant amount of comments from the public. Many expressed their concerns and frustrations over the lack of cooperation from some road users in emergencies.

 

Rattanaprapasala urged other drivers to be more considerate when they see emergency vehicles, stressing the importance of every second in life-threatening situations.

 

The family of the deceased patient was informed of the circumstances but they chose not to take legal action against the driver.

 

Sukanya Sukklin, another member of the rescue team, also shared her perspective on the incident. She explained that all other vehicles moved aside to allow the emergency vehicle to pass, except for the Honda. Sukklin decided to record the event on her phone as it became clear the driver would not yield.

 

Sukklin emphasised the importance of viewing every road user as a family member, urging a collective sense of responsibility to prevent unnecessary losses.

 

By Ryan Turner

Image courtesy of Sanook

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-04

 

 

Tragic incident. Happens every day somewhere in Thailand. I hope they got the driver. A year in prison would be good. However, I suppose a fine is more likely only.

[RJRS1301]

One assumes they can trace the car& driver, who should then be charged, upon conviction confiscating vehicle, loss of licence and community service for 12 months in hospital mortuary 

[Gobbler]

It's manslaughter or something close. Try them and then put them in chains. 

 

[Gobbler]

Put ramming equipment on all ambulances.  Ram, anyone blocking on purpose.  Push them aside over a cliff; it doesn't matter.

[doublezero]

In Europe and other countries with more civilized driving culture the driver of the Honda would have lost his driving licence right on the spot and would have faced a trial resulting in several years imprisonment. In Thailand he probably gets away with a 2000 Bath fine.

[spidermike007]

This should result in a charge of deliberate manslaughter. This fool knew what they were doing. This is another level of self absorption and needs to be punished, to set an example for a society they has never been educated about setting aside their own priorities for someone struggling to stay alive. Lock him up. The police need to arrest him, and the judge needs to show some moral courage. 

[AAArdvark]

Why should the family have to file a complaint? Surely it is a criminal matter. 

[malibukid]

life is cheap here

[spidermike007]

I was in Italy and watched an ambulance ram a car, and drive it right off the road. These vehicles should be equipped with massive fender guards and be entitled to do whatever they need to do, to vehicles blocking their path. 

 

I would go a step further. Have a paramedic equipped with a graffiti stencil kit, that says I am a social outcast and would not move my car for someone who was dying. Spray them! Shame them!

[goldenbrwn1]

Yeh fire trucks do it often but they are obviously big trucks with fender guards 

[bluemoon58]

36 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This should result in a charge of deliberate manslaughter. This fool knew what they were doing. This is another level of self absorption and needs to be punished, to set an example for a society they has never been educated about setting aside their own priorities for someone struggling to stay alive. Lock him up. The police need to arrest him, and the judge needs to show some moral courage. 

Correct. Me, me, me seems to be the majority attitude of Thais. I have witnessed what happened in the article many times over the years. Selfish, selfish, selfish! 

[jvs]

8 minutes ago, bluemoon58 said:

Correct. Me, me, me seems to be the majority attitude of Thais. I have witnessed what happened in the article many times over the years. Selfish, selfish, selfish! 

You are so right and the people in power do nothing about it.

I believe the fine is 500 baht.

Tomorrow a few wai's,"i am so sorry"(but not really)and we can wait for the next similar incident.

When will the Thai people wake up?

Oh yes,i forgot. "mai pen rai".

So much for some people using the stupid argument that sometimes the ambulances are using lights and sirens when there is no patient inside.

 

Edited November 4 by jvs

[thesetat2013]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Sukklin emphasised the importance of viewing every road user as a family member, urging a collective sense of responsibility to prevent unnecessary losses.

Wishful thinking for this. 99% of Thai drivers are selfish and only see themselves as having the right of way. 

 

Although they were blocked by the driver. I find it hard to believe a minutes delay caused the patient to die as claimed in the story. I do realize that time is important in getting a patient to the hospital as fast as possible. The article fails to mention if the patient died several minutes before arriving to the hospital though. Perhaps more realistically the delay made them lose the chance to perform emergency resuscitation on the patient within the time frame needed to get the heart beating again. 

Given the law says emergency vehicles have the right of way. Criminal charges should be made against that driver and publicized to ensure the public sees the reaction to such maneuvers while driving when an emergency vehicle is approaching. 

[Srikcir]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The family of the deceased patient was informed of the circumstances but they chose not to take legal action against the driver.

This is not a civil matter but a criminal matter. Regardless of the intentions of survivors, the law must be applied to bring justice for the victim. In this case perhaps manslaughter.

It is the duty of the police to investigate and determine if laws apply and prosecute the person allegedly responsible for the death.

[geisha]

Name and shame, photos on every newspaper. Confiscate car and license. 

[Utalk2mutt]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

One assumes they can trace the car& driver, who should then be charged, upon conviction confiscating vehicle, loss of licence and community service for 12 months in hospital mortuary 

Loss of licence? How can you lose something this inconsiderate moron probably never had in the first place.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

One assumes they can trace the car& driver, who should then be charged, upon conviction confiscating vehicle, loss of licence and community service for 12 months in hospital mortuary 

Sounds like a good educational readjustment.

[hotchilli]

24 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

Wishful thinking for this. 99% of Thai drivers are selfish and only see themselves as having the right of way. 

A rather exaggerated figure.... closer to maybe 10%

[LittleBear57]

Obviously this guy was being a dick and should be prosecuted.  However I have moved over several times recently for vehicles with flashing colored lights to find out it's not an emergency vehicle at all. I would like to these prosecuted also.

[kuzmabruk]

1 hour ago, doublezero said:

In Europe and other countries with more civilized driving culture the driver of the Honda would have lost his driving licence right on the spot and would have faced a trial resulting in several years imprisonment. In Thailand he probably gets away with a 2000 Bath fine.

One problem you see in Thailand is emergency vehicles drive around with lights and siren on when there is no emergency.  Add this to the fact there are no strict laws and if there were laws, there is zero enforcement.  

[Polaky]

Sorry but nothing will happen to these drivers, this is Thailand. 

[findlay13]

1 hour ago, doublezero said:

In Europe and other countries with more civilized driving culture the driver of the Honda would have lost his driving licence right on the spot and would have faced a trial resulting in several years imprisonment. In Thailand he probably gets away with a 2000 Bath fine.

If  fined at all

[HuaHinHim]

I’m no lawyer and agree that people that do this should face some form of punishment but a 1 minute delay seems a bit of a stretch to lay the patients death on the driver. 

[chickenslegs]

53 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

Although they were blocked by the driver. I find it hard to believe a minutes delay caused the patient to die as claimed in the story. I do realize that time is important in getting a patient to the hospital as fast as possible. The article fails to mention if the patient died several minutes before arriving to the hospital though. Perhaps more realistically the delay made them lose the chance to perform emergency resuscitation on the patient within the time frame needed to get the heart beating again. 

Given the law says emergency vehicles have the right of way. Criminal charges should be made against that driver and publicized to ensure the public sees the reaction to such maneuvers while driving when an emergency vehicle is approaching. 

The article states that the ambulance was on its way to pick up the patient, so that 60 seconds of receiving no medical attention may have been crucial.

[malibukid]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

I was in Italy and watched an ambulance ram a car, and drive it right off the road. These vehicles should be equipped with massive fender guards and be entitled to do whatever they need to do, to vehicles blocking their path. 

 

I would go a step further. Have a paramedic equipped with a graffiti stencil kit, that says I am a social outcast and would not move my car for someone who was dying. Spray them! Shame them!

like the California Highway Patrol

[Thumbs]

Police laziness, hard for the public to know what is and what isnt an emergency vehicle at night when any moron can attach blues and twos to their vehicle and drive around, personally saw two food delivery drivers using them the other evening 

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, doublezero said:

In Europe and other countries with more civilized driving culture the driver of the Honda would have lost his driving licence right on the spot and would have faced a trial resulting in several years imprisonment. In Thailand he probably gets away with a 2000 Bath fine.

says the family of the deceased patient decided not to file any charge - shouldn't even be up to them as it is a traffic and civil violation and the police should find and charge the individual.

[Expat Tom]

Much of my career was spent as a transportation safety consultant. My specialty was high way safety analysis and accident analysis. Thailand may not have the most dangerous traffic situation in the world but it is certainly one of the worse.

Basically there are three root causes for traffic accidents:

1) Poor engineering, design and construction to include signage.

2) Poor driver education and licensing

3) Poor law enforcement.

 

In 99% of accidents one or a combination of these causes are involved.

You are in danger just crossing the street in a designated cross walk and there are very very few stop

or yield signs. If there were stop signs the Thais would just ignore them.

 

If you live here, look around and form your own opinion. 

  

[john donson]

what is wrong with people, well, they don't even keep the door open for you when they see you arriving, prefer to shut it down, was in my moo baan...  me me me...   a wai if caught and 500 baht ?

 

every minute counts for the ambulance... disgusting behavior

 

name and shame, no video? no dashcam in an ambulance?