Crime Taxi Driver Blocks Ambulance, Leading to Patient’s Death in Patong

[Liverpool Lou]

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

He should be booked for murder and let the court figure out his final conviction.

You wouldn't like that, he'd be acquitted of that charge.

[Liverpool Lou]

12 hours ago, blaze master said:

At home roads part like the Red Sea when an ambulance is on a call.

 

 

As pointed out in the OP, there was no room for the traffic to part like the Red Sea.

[Alexjkr]

And on another thread "Foreign Lamborghini Driver Sparks Outrage in Phuket Over Reckless Behaviour". Thais are outraged by the behaviour of some foreigners but they don't understand how outraged foreigners are to Thais me me me culture and complete disrespect for emergency vehicles.

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

But what will happen now to the taxi driver? Was it murder?

No, it was not.

[Thumbs]

Step 1 is to enforce the emergency light use, everyone thinks they can stick lights on their vehicles from coaches to grab riders. No wonder people decide to ignore them

[blaze master]

8 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

As pointed out in the OP, there was no room for the traffic to part like the Red Sea.

 

It says nothing of the sort. In fact an eye witness stated if the taxi had simply moved a little there would of been enough space for the ambulance to get by.

 

Re read the article. 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

12 hours ago, patongphil said:

I would suggest the chances of being "saved" at Patong Hospital would be pretty low anyway.

 

That (and this) may well prove to be an unpopular opinion amidst the predictable wave of sanctimonious outrage, but I find myself inclined to agree.

 

For how long was the ambulance actually obstructed - five minutes, or an hour? That’s a crucial detail.

Was the delay in blocking the Ambulance really a contributory factor in the death of the deceased ?

 

As grim as it sounds, I suspect the unfortunate individual who passed away may not have survived regardless.

That said, the driver of the silver Camry absolutely must face charges. His behaviour was reprehensible, and it’s vital that a clear message is sent.

 

So, did the delay caused by the taxi driver actually contribute to the death - or was the poor man tragically beyond saving regardless?

 

 

[Upnotover]

I have noticed 2 changes in driving here over the past 20 years.  1).  People will now use the car horn out of annoyance - initially I was always surprised by the lack of outward irritation displayed.  And 2). willingness to give way to emergency vehicles.   Never used to happen.  But just today I was on an exit from the expressway and an ambulance was approaching from behind.  The bus next to my taxi and the taxi itself amongst others made substantial efforts to make room for the ambulance.  I find it positive.

[richard_smith237]

14 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Eyewitnesses reported that the ambulance had its sirens fully activated, but the taxi driver failed to move aside. “The road was narrow, but if the taxi had just pulled over for a moment, the patient’s life might have been saved,” one witness said.

 

 

There was clearly a couple of meters for the Silver Taxi to pull aside so as not to impede the Ambulance... 

The mind boggles as to why someone wouldn't.

 

 

It looks like it might have been a minute or two at most - while the taxi could have pulled over earlier, it also looks like the ambulance turned into the taxi. I'm not condoning the Taxi drivers actions by any means - but was the Ambulance driver 'making a point' in stopping when it he could have continued 'around' the taxi ??

 

i.e. was any delay due a 'stubborn' response of the Ambulance driver to make a point and play the victim when instead the priority was continuing on to the hospital instead of also stopping? (the ambulance doesn't appear blocked in)

 

 

 

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

There was clearly a couple of meters for the Silver Taxi to pull aside so as not to impede the Ambulance... 

The mind boggles as to why someone wouldn't.

 

 

It looks like it might have been a minute or two at most - while the taxi could have pulled over earlier, it also looks like the ambulance turned into the taxi. I'm not condoning the Taxi drivers actions by any means - but was the Ambulance driver 'making a point' in stopping when it he could have continued 'around' the taxi ??

 

i.e. was any delay due a 'stubborn' response of the Ambulance driver to make a point and play the victim when instead the priority was continuing on to the hospital instead of also stopping? (the ambulance doesn't appear blocked in)

 

 

 

 

Looks to me like the ambulance was doing what ever it could do to get to the hospital.

[newbee2022]

38 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it was not.

I forgot. You've been one of the bystanders, right?

[Blueman1]

39 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it was not.

But it could be Manslaughter

[Ralf001]

5 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

But it could be Manslaughter

Nope.

Reckless driving causing death at best...... but its a big stretch.

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Looks to me like the ambulance was doing what ever it could do to get to the hospital.

 

It’s possible, of course, that an unseen vehicle in front of the ambulance was preventing it from manoeuvring around the stationary Camry (taxi) - that can't be ruled out as the 'cam car' didn't get a clear view.

 

However, it also appears to me that the ambulance driver may have been more interested in making a public spectacle than in swiftly reaching the hospital. His behaviour suggests he was already irritated by the taxi driver’s actions, and allowed that frustration to take precedence over professional urgency.

 

I could be mistaken, of course – but that’s how it comes across: the ambulance driver fuelling the drama.

 

And just to be clear, because people will cherry pick my comments – I’m not excusing the taxi driver’s conduct in the slightest. But, suspect the ambulance driver also played his part in 'creating' a situation.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

6 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

But it could be Manslaughter

Nope.

Reckless driving causing death at best...... but its a big stretch.

 

Did the 'delay' cause the death ??   was the delay long enough to lead to the death ? 

 

I think the Taxi driver needs some sort of penalty - but I don't think his actions attributed to death, that guy in the Ambulance was so critical it may have already been impossible to save him - an expert witness would be needed to prove that 5 minutes could have made a difference.

 

I think the worst a driver could be charged with is: Careless or inconsiderate driving - as below, thats a 500 baht penalty.

 

[[ Section 76(2) of Thailand's Land Traffic Act (B.E. 2522) mandates that drivers must yield to emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, when they are using sirens and flashing lights. Failure to do so is punishable by a fine of up to 500 baht ]]

 

The act also states that if a driver's failure to yield directly causes harm or death, more severe penalties can apply. Under Section 79 of the same Act, such actions may lead to charges of negligence causing death or even intentional manslaughter, depending on the circumstances and intent. 

 

But again, that would need to be proven.

[2long]

I am NOT FOR ONE MINUTE ON THE TAXI DRIVER'S SIDE or defending him, but... playing Devil's Advocate

- did his actions actually cause the death of the poor deceased man? Nobody will know?

- is it possible that the story is somewhat exaggerated? We have a photo, but no video?

- is it possible that SOMETIMES some OTHER ambulance drivers get a hard on for their lights and sirens when it's not absolutely necessary?

 

I'm a British driver and we all know how to behave when any emergency vehicle comes along with all the noise and lights. But I've also been here long enough to know stuff.

 

I know I'll get shot down in flames here, but please read my post carefully before doing so.

[mancub]

10 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Supposed to have  introduced this obstruction offence just a few years ago and most do  now pull over . There is only the odd idiot who does this now .

There's often the odd idiot who thinks it clever to "slipstream" the ambulance also.

[still kicking]

18 minutes ago, 2long said:

I am NOT FOR ONE MINUTE ON THE TAXI DRIVER'S SIDE or defending him, but... playing Devil's Advocate

- did his actions actually cause the death of the poor deceased man? Nobody will know?

- is it possible that the story is somewhat exaggerated? We have a photo, but no video?

- is it possible that SOMETIMES some OTHER ambulance drivers get a hard on for their lights and sirens when it's not absolutely necessary?

 

I'm a British driver and we all know how to behave when any emergency vehicle comes along with all the noise and lights. But I've also been here long enough to know stuff.

 

I know I'll get shot down in flames here, but please read my post carefully before doing so.

No video? Open your eyes.

[Patong2021]

7 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Tragic story.

You can't revive that person.

But what will happen now to the taxi driver? Was it murder? Kind of. He's responsible partly of the death of a person.

manslaughter.

Driver  will say that he was not aware , or that he could not move.

[Patong2021]

I wonder if the ambulance  had a defibrillator?  If the person goes into  V fib and there isn't immediate intervention, the person dies. One can do  CPR all one wants but it won't help. That's why  AED devices are located in large public areas (like airports) and is now mandatory in large work areas  in many countries.

[still kicking]

2 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

I wonder if the ambulance  had a defibrillator?  If the person goes into  V fib and there isn't immediate intervention, the person dies. One can do  CPR all one wants but it won't help. That's why  AED devices are located in large public areas (like airports) and is now mandatory in large work areas  in many countries.

In OZ, you have them on most beaches.

[ujayujay]

14 hours ago, patongphil said:

I would suggest the chances of being "saved" at Patong Hospital would be pretty low anyway.

chatterbox

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, kuzmabruk said:

Problem is many vehicles with sirens drive around with the siren on and this makes people disrespect sirens.   It’s difficult to stop this, but making the offense of blocking an emergency vehicle with its siren on incur a severe penalty is not difficult.  But this is Thailand and so the penalty will probably not be 50,000 baht as it should be. 

Cop in Wifes Family told me years ago that they fine someone based on what they think they can afford to pay. as you can't expect a poor person to pay a large fine when they can't afford it !!

[dingdongrb]

Most Thai drivers neglect the right of way to pedestrians and emergency vehicles. 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, 2long said:

I am NOT FOR ONE MINUTE ON THE TAXI DRIVER'S SIDE or defending him, but... playing Devil's Advocate

- did his actions actually cause the death of the poor deceased man? Nobody will know?

- is it possible that the story is somewhat exaggerated? We have a photo, but no video?

- is it possible that SOMETIMES some OTHER ambulance drivers get a hard on for their lights and sirens when it's not absolutely necessary?

 

I'm a British driver and we all know how to behave when any emergency vehicle comes along with all the noise and lights. But I've also been here long enough to know stuff.

 

I know I'll get shot down in flames here, but please read my post carefully before doing so.

 

... you may get some shots across your bow from virtue-signallers... However,  your points are all valid...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

20 minutes ago, still kicking said:

23 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

I wonder if the ambulance  had a defibrillator?  If the person goes into  V fib and there isn't immediate intervention, the person dies. One can do  CPR all one wants but it won't help. That's why  AED devices are located in large public areas (like airports) and is now mandatory in large work areas  in many countries.

In OZ, you have them on most beaches.

 

Did he need to specify...   he "wonders if the ambulance in Thailand had a defibrillator ?"

[riclag]

15 hours ago, blaze master said:

At home roads part like the Red Sea when an ambulance is on a call.

 

 

Because there are harsh consequences . Over here according to my resident Thai , Some Emergency vehicles abuse the sirens ,  the staff have more important duties, lunch , hook up or whatever.

Some Thai  drivers knowing this phenomenon,willfully  block or impede their passage.

 

 

[blaze master]

2 minutes ago, riclag said:

Because there are harsh consequences . Over here according to my resident Thai , Some Emergency vehicles abuse the sirens ,  the staff have more important duties, lunch , hook up or whatever.

Some Thai  drivers knowing this phenomenon,willfully  block or impede their passage.

 

 

 

Of course they do.

[MalcolmB]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

For how long was the ambulance actually obstructed - five minutes, or an hour? That’s a crucial detail.

An hour? Do you ever actually read OPs before making up your own stuff?

 

16 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Relatives promptly contacted Patong Hospital, which dispatched an emergency team at 08:15.

 

16 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr Pradit was pronounced dead at approximately 08:45.

 

 

[MalcolmB]

19 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Did he need to specify...   he "wonders if the ambulance in Thailand had a defibrillator ?"

We know that Richard.

Please refrain from argumentative comments.

 

It isn’t helpful, the gentleman has died, please show some respect.