A foreign woman was killed, and a man was critically injured in a motorcycle collision with a van on Patak Road in Karon, Phuket, at approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6. The incident has sparked social media discussions, highlighting safety concerns for foreign tourists on local roads.

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The accident occurred near a curve by the Holiday Inn hotel in Karon. A video circulating online showed the couple riding at high speed before losing control and crossing into the van's path, resulting in a severe collision. The female passenger was thrown from the motorcycle and died on the scene, while the male rider suffered serious injuries. Authorities haven't released their identities or updated the man's condition.

Local reactions have included criticism of foreign tourists' riding habits in Phuket. Some residents allege that tourists often ride at high speeds or use rental vehicles without adequate skills, raising safety concerns. There are also accusations against rental companies prioritizing profits over the well-being of tourists and locals.

This incident is one in a series of similar accidents on the island this year. In January, another crash on Patak Road claimed the life of a Turkish motorcyclist. The frequency of these incidents is prompting calls for enhanced road safety measures and stricter rental policies.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 08 May 2026

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Speed kills, Thai roads are dangerous

RIP

Looked like he tried to steer out of it rather than lean into it.

You have to wonder if he had a motorcycle licence or not.

It is very sad but keeps on happening.

Wouldn't say it was high speed , more like not qualified to ride a bike .

'Some residents allege that tourists often ride at high speeds or use rental vehicles without adequate skills, raising safety concerns.'

Just like the locals, then. But let's just blame the foreigners.

Back when I was there, the road could be slick even on good days. There was oil, rubber residue and gravel that could easily result in a loss of control. They don't clean roads here and the debris builds up.

46 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

'Some residents allege that tourists often ride at high speeds or use rental vehicles without adequate skills, raising safety concerns.'

Just like the locals, then. But let's just blame the foreigners.

And why not, apart from the Brits and Ozzie's, foreigners are riding on the opposite side of the road to what they are use to...compound that with lack of experience, I think the Thais have a valid point

54 minutes ago, baansgr said:

And why not, apart from the Brits and Ozzie's, foreigners are riding on the opposite side of the road to what they are use to...compound that with lack of experience, I think the Thais have a valid point

Singapore, Malaysia, HK, there’s more than a few countries who drive on the left. And when I drive in Europe I manage to avoid crashing. If anything driving on the opposite side of the road makes me more careful.

Sorry, I can’t put this one down to driving on the “wrong” side of the road.

Edited May 9May 9 by wensiensheng

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

And why not, apart from the Brits and Ozzie's, foreigners are riding on the opposite side of the road to what they are use to..

And Thais are often riding on the opposite side of the road to what they are supposed to.............

The video shows the rider completely missed the bend in the road

it didn't look like going to to fast just failure for whatever reason to follow the left hand bend in the road R.I.P

Tourists and motor bikes driving at high speed dont go well together here in Thailand

I see it most days when out same when they are driving cars pick-ups ect

What's with the rush in speeding 😱

I’ve seen that video and tbh he looked totally clueless how to ride it .

The police should be going back to the renters and hammering them if they haven’t got a copy of their licence and IDP

I assumed speed caused him to overshoot into the oncoming traffic but no...

A simple turn. Doesn't appear to be speeding. Lane positioning is wrong and seems afraid to steer the bike.

In other words doesn't know how to ride and lacks the basic skills to be riding a motorcycle on Phuket roads.

17 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Singapore, Malaysia, HK, there’s more than a few countries who drive on the left. And when I drive in Europe I manage to avoid crashing. If anything driving on the opposite side of the road makes me more careful.

Sorry, I can’t put this one down to driving on the “wrong” side of the road.

Agreed, but the majority are from ones that drive on the right

1 hour ago, kenconagasaki said:

And Thais are often riding on the opposite side of the road to what they are supposed to.............

Really..never seen that, maybe in the cycle lane to save doing a u turn but not the way this guy was riding

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

There are also accusations against rental companies prioritizing profits over the well-being of tourists and locals.

Not much traction on these unregulated scooter rental shops either being owned, or given "approval" to operate, by local cops then?

43 minutes ago, Easterneye said:

I’ve seen that video and tbh he looked totally clueless how to ride it .

The police should be going back to the renters and hammering them if they haven’t got a copy of their licence and IDP

Is ensuring the foreign renter has a valid DL or IDP part of the Phuket scooter rental company's legal obligations?

It's different in Pattaya.

"The incident has sparked social media discussions, highlighting safety concerns for foreign tourists on local roads.".....And what's about Thais 2025: 20k death on the Spot and minimum same amount died in Hospital.............Thats the Fact! And let's not even talk about the injured.

I am 72 (American), and have been riding dirt bikes, big bore street bikes, and now a humble Honda 125 for 50+ years. People don't seem to respect the reality that riding a motorcycle is a SKILL, takes practice, and experience. Even with all that experience under my belt ... it took a while to get used to riding on "the other side" of the road. The only advice I can offer to people riding scooters here are Three rules: Rule One: There are no rules in Thailand. Rule Two: Ride like you are invisible, because in a practical sense, you are. Rule Three: Look at the cars / bikes around you. Ask yourself, "what is the most selfish, stupid, and dangerous thing they could do right now." Prepare for that, because it is EXACTLY what they are going to do!

Looked like he tried to steer out of it rather than lean into it.

You have to wonder if he had a motorcycle licence or not.

It is very sad but keeps on happening.

Looks to me like their mistake was being on a scooter instead of having 2 tons of steel and seat belts to protect them like the van driver who apparently walked away unscathed. Another data point. Same collision and the guy(s) with 4 wheels and over a ton of steel walk away.

4 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Back when I was there, the road could be slick even on good days. There was oil, rubber residue and gravel that could easily result in a loss of control. They don't clean roads here and the debris builds up.

Indeed- a bad mixture that leaves the road literally an accident waiting to happen

RIP for the poor girl and I hope the rider recovers soon

Its a recipe for disaster, a combination of many factors / young people / hot weather /no issuance /no experience of ever driving a motorbike previously. How many people in the UK ride motorbikes ? the weather is crap. In the UK motorcyclists wear leathers to protect them in case of accidents and they have a proper motorcycle license. Young and old come here with nothing and jump on a bike for the first time in their life. Hot weather who wants to wear a hat ? docent matter i haven't got a license this Thailand ,freedom on the road. The ones to blame for all this tragedy are the shops who rent out the bikes. and the police who don't shut down these shops !!!

It's a lot harder to get in trouble on one of these little monsters. They are the only motorbike rentals available to tourists in Luang Prabang, but that's unlikely to happen here for many reasons.

Cigarette packs are printed with all those gory pictures of cancer victims. Maybe they should require rented motorbike helmets to be plastered with pics of road rash and compound fractures. 😙

Edited May 9May 9 by Wuvu2

Funny that these accidents and deaths involving foreigners gets so much coverage. In the past two days I have seen two scooters involved in accidents, just on the small street in my neighborhood. One appeared to perhaps be a fatality. This was on a fairly small, usually low speed local street.

“Local reactions have included criticism of foreign tourists' riding habits in Phuket. Some residents allege that tourists often ride at high speeds or use rental vehicles without adequate skills”

As others have pointed out - “Oh, you mean they were driving just like some Thais?”

3 hours ago, kenconagasaki said:

And Thais are often riding on the opposite side of the road to what they are supposed to.............

Thais are supposed to ride on a particular side of the road? Who knew? 🤣🤣🤣

Edited May 9May 9 by Homburg

19 hours ago, smedly said:

Speed kills, Thai roads are dangerous

RIP

You don't have to be travelling at speed to be killed on Thai roads, but I guess it helps.....

I ride this section of rd daily, a few points: the road condition in this area is good, coming as he did frm Patong direction its the final steep hill down into Karon, this is a sharp lett bend which then tightens slightly a small straight into a right...

He was travelling to fast with a Pillion to safely negotiate the bend, hence he lost it & overshot

Even if the Van was not coming the other way which he hit, there is Armco barrier along this bend he would have run into with probably the same outcome.

Reports ard he was a Dutch National, so maybe not used to riding/driving on the left.

Either way accident seems to be down to his poor riding technique.

RIP to the French lady (as reported locally)

Place speed bumps near and in curve roadway?

35 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Place speed bumps near and in curve roadway?

Nooooo any speed bump must be well before the curve or there will be more 'accidents'

flashy lights speed sign and reflective arrows on the crash barrier and maybe some of those rumble strips again before the curve would be my idea.

I don't like speed bumps at all..some of the ones along Jomtien beach road are like the table top jumps on a motocross track 😋 still just slightly better than the black tarmac humps that look like shadows cast across the road from the electricity pylons those things are lethal.

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Local reactions have included criticism of foreign tourists' riding habits in Phuket. Some residents allege that tourists often ride at high speeds or use rental vehicles without adequate skills, raising safety concerns.

Just about the funniest thing I have read all this week. Using rental vehicles without adequate skills is probably the only true statement. So why don't Thai renters check the IDP, oh they don't, there you go.

Watched the video. Classic novice accident:
(1) Riding at night on unfamiliar road.
(2) High speed (With passanger)
(3) Off camber sharp downhill turn
(4) Grabbing the brakes and bars which forces the bike to stand up, and NOT lean
(5) Target fixation - "The bike goes where you are looking"

(6) If intoxicated, all this times 10

I do feel so sorry for the passenger ... Really sad.