64-Year-Old Woman Killed by Passing Train in Incident in Ayutthaya

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

A 64-year-old woman lost her life in a  train incident on the evening of November 29, after stepping off one train and being struck by another traveling in the opposite direction.

 

At approximately 18:30, Pol. Lt. Col. Thawatchai Janruang, an investigator from Phachi Police Station, received a report of the fatal collision near Ban Don Klang Station in Krajiw Subdistrict, Phachi District, Ayutthaya Province. The woman was struck by a Chiang Mai-Bangkok train as she stepped off a Bangkok- Lopburi train. Her body was dragged over 100 metres along the tracks. Police, rescue workers from Ayutthaya Ruam Jai Foundation, and a medical examiner arrived at the scene to investigate.

 

The accident occurred in an unlit area near the train station. The victim, identified as Mrs. Noppawan (surname withheld), was a resident of Moo 7, Prakaew Subdistrict, Phachi District. Her body was found severely mutilated, with dismembered limbs and body parts scattered across the tracks. Rescue workers collected the remains and placed them in black bags for transport to the Pathum Thani Institute of Forensic Science for further examination.

 

Mr. Somjet a 50-year-old relative of the victim, revealed that Mrs. Noppawan lived with her daughter in Bangkok and routinely returned home every Friday by train. She typically arrived at Ban Don Klang Station at 18:40, where family members would pick her up. On this occasion, however, her family arrived to the devastating sight of her death.

 

Witnesses stated that Mrs. Noppawan stepped off the train on the right-hand side, while other passengers disembarked on the left. At the same moment, the Chiang Mai-Bangkok train passed through the station on the right-hand track. The area was poorly lit, and Mrs. Noppawan may not have seen the approaching train in the darkness, leading to the tragic collision.

The train involved briefly stopped to gather details before continuing its journey to deliver passengers. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, including interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence, to determine the exact circumstances.

 

-- 2024-11-30

 

[worrab]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The train involved briefly stopped to gather details before continuing its journey to deliver passengers. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, including interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence, to determine the exact circumstances.

Wow. In UK the driver would be relieved of duty. Passengers detrained to alternative transport and the loco/unit taken away for cleaning and removal of any other body parts.  And how can  you review evidence when the train has carried on with the journey?? Just shows how cheap life is over here, as we all know.

[BusyB]

 

No reason to delay a bunch of passengers as well. The train can be cleaned at the terminus and any odd body parts sent back down the line with the next one. Much more efficient and cheaper.

[PETERTHEEATER]

As a frequent traveller on the route did she always dismount on the trackside instead of the platform side? If so, why?

[arithai12]

2 hours ago, worrab said:

Wow. In UK the driver would be relieved of duty. Passengers detrained to alternative transport and the loco/unit taken away for cleaning and removal of any other body parts.  And how can  you review evidence when the train has carried on with the journey?? Just shows how cheap life is over here, as we all know.

Just shows how time is wasted in the UK, I would say. Exactly what evidence do you need to review in this case? 

[khunjeff]

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The area was poorly lit, and Mrs. Noppawan may not have seen the approaching train in the darkness

 

I would think an oncoming train would be easier to see in a dimly lit area, not harder, considering that it would have a very bright headlight on the front (and would probably be blowing its horn quite loudly, but that's a separate issue).

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

As a frequent traveller on the route did she always dismount on the trackside instead of the platform side? If so, why?

 

Same reason scooter riders go around the barrier arms to cross the tracks, ignoring the bells and flashing lights, instead of waiting for the train to pass......convenience.  Rules are for other folks.

 

And in those all too common threads, posters often ask..

 

As a frequent rider on that route did she always ride around the active railroad barriers instead of waiting for the train to pass? If so, why?

[worrab]

16 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Just shows how time is wasted in the UK, I would say. Exactly what evidence do you need to review in this case? 

It is not time wasting at all. I would go so far as to say that you have never been a train driver. I was. Never had a death on the railway? I have. Been out to relieve drivers involved in deaths? I have. It is a traumatizing incident and you never know how it will affect people later.

The crew should be relieved of duty and taken home and another crew take over. All deaths involving the railway should have all evidence, regardless, gathered at the scene before the train is taken away for a deep clean.

All body parts should be gathered at the scene and the train checked over for large body parts or any other damage that can occur to brake pipes etc. I have known a missing arm from one occassion be found a day later lying on the track 10 miles from the incident!! Missed in the dark and was lodged in the loco! 
And one other think to consider is the family would like as much of the body as is physically possible for the funeral.

[KannikaP]

19 hours ago, worrab said:

Wow. In UK the driver would be relieved of duty. Passengers detrained to alternative transport and the loco/unit taken away for cleaning and removal of any other body parts.  And how can  you review evidence when the train has carried on with the journey?? Just shows how cheap life is over here, as we all know.

Why do you suggest the driver of the offending train would be relieved of duty, just because some stupid person got off another train on the wrong side, and not even at the station. 

If he felt he needed some time of rest, OK, but not compulsory.

[worrab]

12 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Why do you suggest the driver of the offending train would be relieved of duty, just because some stupid person got off another train on the wrong side, and not even at the station. 

If he felt he needed some time of rest, OK, but not compulsory.

Obviously you have never been a train driver involved in an incident involving a death regardless of the circumstances! It should be compulsory here as in most western countries to ensure the train crew are okay. It is not a pleasant experience I can assure you!

[KannikaP]

23 minutes ago, worrab said:

Obviously you have never been a train driver involved in an incident involving a death regardless of the circumstances! It should be compulsory here as in most western countries to ensure the train crew are okay. It is not a pleasant experience I can assure you!

No, you are correct. I have never been a train driver. Have you?

And then read my last sentence.

It must have been much more traumatic for the three guys putting the bits in black bags.

Edited 2 hours ago by KannikaP

[worrab]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

No, you are correct. I have never been a train driver. Have you?

And then read my last sentence.

It must have been much more traumatic for the three guys putting the bits in black bags.

Yes. I was a train driver starting in the days of BR, then we became SouthEastern at the time I retired from being High Speed driver running from Kent to St Pancras in London. 
It is traumatic for all concerned but as a driver you are helpless when an incident like this occurs. Nothing you can do! In UK, the collection of body parts is done by Police and Coroners officials. More used to death than a train driver.