Ambulance Runs Red Light & Collides with Motorbike, Leaving 2 Seriously Injured

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture captured from CCTV

 

A dramatic collision occurred when an ambulance transporting a patient ran a red light and collided with a motorcycle at high speed, leaving two people seriously injured. CCTV footage captured the moment of impact, with the ambulance driver claiming the emergency lights and sirens were on, and they had checked both directions before proceeding.

 

The incident took place on December 27, at the Don Sai Ngam intersection on Road 4058 in Bang Mak subdistrict, Mueang Chumphon district. Police Lieutenant Noraphon Chuchuai of Chumphon Police Station received the report and quickly dispatched rescue teams from Chumphon Hospital and the Chumphon Charity Foundation to the scene.

 

At the site, a man and a woman were found injured on the inbound side of Chumphon city. Rescue workers provided first aid, noting that the woman suffered injuries to both legs and neck, while the man sustained a head injury, initially losing consciousness but regaining it later. Both were rushed to Chumphon Khet Udomsak Hospital for treatment.

 

The area was littered with debris, including food bags, a helmet, and shoes belonging to the injured pair. The motorcycle, a red-and-black Honda Wave with registration in Chumphon, was heavily damaged. Around 50-60 metres away, the ambulance from Sawi Hospital was parked with its emergency lights still on. Inside the ambulance, the patient remained on board, awaiting transfer to Chumphon Hospital.

 

According to the ambulance driver, Mr. Metit, the vehicle had been transporting a patient from Sawi Hospital to Chumphon Hospital with emergency lights and sirens activated. He admitted to running the red light at the Don Sai Ngam intersection, stating he had checked both directions before proceeding. However, as he moved forward, a motorbike carrying a husband and wife collided with the ambulance, causing severe injuries to both riders.

 

Police are currently investigating the incident further to determine legal accountability for both parties.

 

-- 2024-12-28

 

 

[JoePai]

Police are currently investigating the incident further to determine legal accountability for both parties.

 

Simple (or should be !) the ambulance driver ran the light so his fault

[PJ71]

Like a scene out of Benny Hill.

[quake]

Very few, slow right down. most  just blast through the lights

Just mad.

TIT.

 

 

[ikke1959]

I must say that when I drive on the road I see many times ambulances or other cars with only lights on, but no sirenes... I also give them way, but I have strongly the impression that they only use their lights to get a free way... In fact lights AND sound is a must to give them free way, but only lights I am not sure.. Same for other cars as police escorts, firefighters, or even common people  which have the red and blue lights on or in their cars.. No wonder there is confusion... This week in Hua Hin there was an ambulance with light and sound and everybody gave them free way, but when he  do the U turn to the hospital, I don't know what happened, but the driver jumped out of the ambulance and went to the car behind him and "talked" to him and went back to his ambulance to go further.. Than I am wondering how serious injured or help was needed for the patient inside..

[Gottfrid]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Police are currently investigating the incident further to determine legal accountability for both parties.

 

Simple (or should be !) the ambulance driver ran the light so his fault

Are you joking? In most countries in the world, as well as in Thailand, an ambulance has the right of road and the right to run a red light if sirens and lights are on. Everyone else are obligated to notice and hear that as well as give road. The red light has no bearing here.

[roo860]

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Are you joking? In most countries in the world, as well as in Thailand, an ambulance has the right of road and the right to run a red light if sirens and lights are on. Everyone else are obligated to notice and hear that as well as give road. The red light has no bearing here.

Emergency vehicles with sirens and lights on ,when approaching Red lights should proceed with caution, in most countries in the world, as well as Thailand.

[fredwiggy]

23 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Are you joking? In most countries in the world, as well as in Thailand, an ambulance has the right of road and the right to run a red light if sirens and lights are on. Everyone else are obligated to notice and hear that as well as give road. The red light has no bearing here.

A smart and safety oriented ambulance driver can legally go through a red light, but that doesn't mean without almost stopping at the light before proceeding. This is what happens when you assume others will stop. The ambulance does have the right of way but this is Thailand, and what is normal anywhere goes out the window here as far as how many drive here is concerned. This does happen in western countries for the same reason. The ambulance driver cannot assume people will abide by the laws.

[JoePai]

31 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Are you joking? In most countries in the world, as well as in Thailand, an ambulance has the right of road and the right to run a red light if sirens and lights are on. Everyone else are obligated to notice and hear that as well as give road. The red light has no bearing here.

False !

[superal]

44 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I must say that when I drive on the road I see many times ambulances or other cars with only lights on, but no sirenes... I also give them way, but I have strongly the impression that they only use their lights to get a free way... In fact lights AND sound is a must to give them free way, but only lights I am not sure.. Same for other cars as police escorts, firefighters, or even common people  which have the red and blue lights on or in their cars.. No wonder there is confusion... This week in Hua Hin there was an ambulance with light and sound and everybody gave them free way, but when he  do the U turn to the hospital, I don't know what happened, but the driver jumped out of the ambulance and went to the car behind him and "talked" to him and went back to his ambulance to go further.. Than I am wondering how serious injured or help was needed for the patient inside..

I once followed an ambulance in Issan . It's lights were flashing etc . When it pulled into the hospital the driver got out and no patients were being carried . I watched him casually walk to a street food stall where he collected his food and sat down on a nearby bench to eat it . I cannot recall ever seeing a Thai ambulance that is travelling without its lights flashing . No wonder that some Thai drivers do not let them pass . Thai ambulance drivers seem to be drivers only and do not have medical skills , unlike UK ambulance crews .

[Will B Good]

I'm far from convinced, that a cost-benefit analysis, could justify the speed at which many emergency vehicles travel.......watching the police cars responding in London is terrifying.

 

 

....and yes, if I were lying in the back of an ambulance having a heart attack or waiting for the police, I'd want them to travel at warp speed.

[mikeymike100]

54 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Are you joking? In most countries in the world, as well as in Thailand, an ambulance has the right of road and the right to run a red light if sirens and lights are on. Everyone else are obligated to notice and hear that as well as give road. The red light has no bearing here.

Cannot speak for Thailand, but in the USA......

• police cars, are authorized to disregard traffic control devices, including red lights, when they are responding to an emergency. This is outlined in various state statutes, which typically require that the vehicle's lights (usually red or blue or a combination) and sirens are in use to alert other road users of their approach.
• Due Regard: However, this permission comes with the caveat that drivers of emergency vehicles must proceed with "due regard" for the safety of all persons using the highway. This means that even when running a red light, they must ensure it is safe to do so, taking into account other traffic, pedestrians, and the immediacy of the emergency.

[Tubulat]

Isn't it even the government's job to change the rules of the road?
All vehicles with blue flashing lights and two-tone horns have priority over all other traffic.
Abuse will be punished.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Are you joking? In most countries in the world, as well as in Thailand, an ambulance has the right of road and the right to run a red light if sirens and lights are on. Everyone else are obligated to notice and hear that as well as give road. The red light has no bearing here.

Not sure they have the "right" in law... they may under emergency conditions using extreme caution cross through a red light.

However they are not absolved from responsibility if causing an accident while doing so.

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Tubulat said:

Isn't it even the government's job to change the rules of the road?
All vehicles with blue flashing lights and two-tone horns have priority over all other traffic.
Abuse will be punished.

 

They have priority where its safe to do so.

 

In this case - it was not safe to approach a junction at speed without first ensuring the junction was clear. 

 

 

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

CCTV footage captured the moment of impact, with the ambulance driver claiming the emergency lights and sirens were on, and they had checked both directions before proceeding.

 

Translation: the driver, thought lights and sirens gave him reason to place every other road user at risk and blow through a junction.

...  IF he had slowed to a reasonable speed and checked, he would not have hit the bike.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, superal said:

I once followed an ambulance in Issan . It's lights were flashing etc . When it pulled into the hospital the driver got out and no patients were being carried . I watched him casually walk to a street food stall where he collected his food and sat down on a nearby bench to eat it . I cannot recall ever seeing a Thai ambulance that is travelling without its lights flashing . No wonder that some Thai drivers do not let them pass . Thai ambulance drivers seem to be drivers only and do not have medical skills , unlike UK ambulance crews .

 

This is one of the issues...  how not following regulations snowballs into a whole number of 'wrongs'... 

 

With driver frequently abusing their 'privileges', society starts to ignore them - this is perhaps whats happened in Thailand over the years...    

 

The consequence of 'crying wolf'... 

[OneManShow]

Lights and siren means nothing, I'm the one who has priority. 😔 my light is green and I'm coming zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. 😯

[PETERTHEEATER]

Note that the ambulance driver is reported as saying the motorcycle collided with his vehicle.😋