Australian Woman Killed, 4 Injured In 6 Vehicle Pile-up In Bangkok Underpass

[Jai Dee]

One killed, 4 injured in pile-up in Bangkok underpass

A pile-up involving six vehicles - including three taxies - in an underpass in Bangkok killed a woman and injured four other people Thursday morning.

The accident inside the Bangkok Yai district's Thaphra underpass happened at 8:40.

The slain woman, Australian national Melisa Walts, 31, was a taxi passenger. Other two people found in the same taxi as the deceased were injured and they were 22-year-old Watcharaporn Hatkitnikorn who sustained a broken leg and taxi driver Wiroj Temboonborisut, 34, who suffered a neck injury.

Anusorn Niamlarp, 43, who drove a Toyota pick-up truck that was involved in the pile-up told police that he was heading to the Thaphra underpass when a Nissan Sefiro car, whose driver Ekkachai Sansern, 21, sustained a broken leg, on the opposite lane overtook vehicles in its lane and brushed with his truck. The Nissan car then crashed into a following yellow-black taxi, he said. The green taxi, with the slain passenger, in attempt to avoid the Nissan car swirled to the left roadside concrete fence and rammed into the yellow-black taxi. Another pink taxi then crashed into the green taxi's rear, according Anusorn.

The crash impact also sent the Nissan car engine to hit a Honda car, whose driver Nittaya Lomthong, 32, suffered abdominal pain from the impact.

Source: The Nation - 20 September 2007

[TAWP]

Without a drawing the description of events is kinda hard to follow/keep track off.

Sorry to hear about the Australian woman. Way too many people die needlessly in traffic here on a daily basis.

[lazeeboy]

Without a drawing the description of events is kinda hard to follow/keep track off.

Sorry to hear about the Australian woman. Way too many people die needlessly in traffic here on a daily basis.

everybody drives to quick in bkk ,all wanting to overtake weather theres space or not ..........

[Tootah]

The slain woman, Australian national Melisa Walts, worked for Fun Language in Thong Lor as an English teacher, My girlfriend works for the same company. She called me this morning to tell me about the crash and bad news. RIP Melisa. My thoughts go out to your family and friends.

[Boater]

From what i can see, the driver overtaking is to Blame, this happens all to often in Thailand, here in Samui, many cars and trucks (yes Trucks) are always overtaking on hills, blind corners and the best one is one there is on coming traffic with a flash of the highlights to say F%^k off i am coming through

If the overtaking driver is to blame, he should be charged with death by dangerous driving and givin the Max Sentance ( not sure what this in thailand is!)

Well there is my 5 cents,

Thanks

[Big A]

Overtaking on blind bends is OK..............the Buddha statue will protect me.

You couldn't make it up!!

[dan10400]

first i ever heard of an engine coming out of one car and flying off into another

though.

another first for Thailand?

[qualtrough]

first i ever heard of an engine coming out of one car and flying off into another

though.

another first for Thailand?

It happens sometimes in very high speed crashes, particularly when hitting a solid object. If an engine did indeed fly out someone was traveling far in excess of any sane speed.

[onnut]

This is sad news, I am very sorry to hear this.

My best friends cousin was the one ran over on Sukhumvit 2 weeks ago.

surely it cant be long before the government takes action. if only at least to enforce proper driving lessons, and MOTs.

[thaigene2]

This is why I am afraid to drive in the 'fast' lane. Prefer to stay in the middle lane, despite the buses swerving in and out! Even when you have only one lane the motorcycles still drive right toward you in YOUR lane..

[Juzrelax]

I worked at the same company up untill last week. This could not have happened to a nicer person. Always a smile on her face.

[pointofview]

Without a drawing the description of events is kinda hard to follow/keep track off.

Sorry to hear about the Australian woman. Way too many people die needlessly in traffic here on a daily basis.

The only people driving in Thailand with a proper driving licence are foriegners1 I personaly hate being driven in thai taxis. That is one thing the thai powers that be dont give a sh*t about - people!

A few rational laws wouldnt go a miss

[Maigo6]

The only people driving in Thailand with a proper driving licence are foriegners

All the Pizzed up Farangs driving cars and riding motorcycles around the resorts of Thailand are no danger at all then.

Edited September 20, 2007 by Maigo6

[pointofview]

The only people driving in Thailand with a proper driving licence are foriegners

All the Pizzed up Farangs driving cars and riding motorcycles around the resorts of Thailand are no danger at all then.

i said with a licence

[Scott]

My condolences to her friends, family, co-workers and students. Another needless and tragic death due primarily to stupidity.

I drive and see this sort of nonsense all the time; like a previous poster, I stay out of the 'fast lane' and try to keep the speed reasonable, just too many unknowns and variables on the roads here.

[Maigo6]

The only people driving in Thailand with a proper driving licence are foriegners

All the Pizzed up Farangs driving cars and riding motorcycles around the resorts of Thailand are no danger at all then.

i said with a licence

So a guy who got his Driving License in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkey, Mozambique, Nigeria, El Salvador, Philipines, etc etc...is much more qualified to drive in Thailand than a Thai?

In 2005 over 43,000 people died on roads in USA, I suppose they were all Thai people as well.

Edited September 21, 2007 by Maigo6

[raslin]

Licensed to do what?

[peterpanner]

From what i can see, the driver overtaking is to Blame, this happens all to often in Thailand, here in Samui, many cars and trucks (yes Trucks) are always overtaking on hills, blind corners and the best one is one there is on coming traffic with a flash of the highlights to say F%^k off i am coming through

Asoke has a lane that is to be used in the other direction during certain hours. You don't want to be in a taxi at switching times there! I nearly wet myself twice already when they started the headlight fights without slowing down at all.

RIP and sorry

[Scott]

Whoa--let's not start the peeing contest just yet. The US may have had a road death toll of 43,000, but that makes up .01% of the population--in country with nearly 1:1 ratio of vehicles to people. A few years ago, Thailand had the highest death rate in the world. Can't remember the %, but it was quite scary.

And no it's not that there is something inately or genetically wrong with Thai drivers, it is about education to some extent, but enforcement to a greater extent. The number of times I wanted to quickly get around a vehicle in my own country but didn't because I was sure a police officer was somewhere around and would get me, I can't count.

The only enforcement I run into here is the "road block" which has more to do with money changing hands than decent driving. People drive safely when the laws are enforced, not because they want to be safe as much as they don't want to get fined or have the hassle of being stopped.

Once the police here start chasing after, ticketing, fining and in general making life uncomfortable for law breakers, the less of this stuff you will see.

The other big factor is the age of drivers. Younger drivers tend to be riskier (especially males) and have more accidents. Of course, we shouldn't forget alcohol either.

[Heng]

Without a drawing the description of events is kinda hard to follow/keep track off.

Sorry to hear about the Australian woman. Way too many people die needlessly in traffic here on a daily basis.

The only people driving in Thailand with a proper driving licence are foriegners1 I personaly hate being driven in thai taxis. That is one thing the thai powers that be dont give a sh*t about - people!

A few rational laws wouldnt go a miss

It's long past due. 'Taxi cab driver' should be added to the list of occupations allowed for foreigners.

[Wolfie]

RIP to the poor Australian woman

[PETERTHEEATER]

Without a drawing the description of events is kinda hard to follow/keep track off.

Sorry to hear about the Australian woman. Way too many people die needlessly in traffic here on a daily basis.

The only people driving in Thailand with a proper driving licence are foriegners1 I personaly hate being driven in thai taxis. That is one thing the thai powers that be dont give a sh*t about - people!

A few rational laws wouldnt go a miss

The traffic laws are in place. What it needs is agressive and effective enforcement by the BiB!

[mikethevigoman]

first i ever heard of an engine coming out of one car and flying off into another

though.

another first for Thailand?

Its more common than you think in a high speed impact,scary,.

[Dupont]

Whoa--let's not start the peeing contest just yet. The US may have had a road death toll of 43,000, but that makes up .01% of the population--in country with nearly 1:1 ratio of vehicles to people. A few years ago, Thailand had the highest death rate in the world. Can't remember the %, but it was quite scary.

And no it's not that there is something inately or genetically wrong with Thai drivers, it is about education to some extent, but enforcement to a greater extent. The number of times I wanted to quickly get around a vehicle in my own country but didn't because I was sure a police officer was somewhere around and would get me, I can't count.

The only enforcement I run into here is the "road block" which has more to do with money changing hands than decent driving. People drive safely when the laws are enforced, not because they want to be safe as much as they don't want to get fined or have the hassle of being stopped.

Once the police here start chasing after, ticketing, fining and in general making life uncomfortable for law breakers, the less of this stuff you will see.

The other big factor is the age of drivers. Younger drivers tend to be riskier (especially males) and have more accidents. Of course, we shouldn't forget alcohol either.

Good point about education and the young. I am still shocked to see hordes of school kids waved out of the schools, BY THE POLICE ON DUTY, FROM!!! an education establishment, mostly underage, three on a bike, four on a bike, nobody with any helmets, some going straight against the traffic on the wrong side of the road.

Every single weekday out side every school, you can see this. In contrast, not at ANYTIME, EVER, ANYWHERE, in the UK would you see this. Simple enforcement plan (dream on I know!!) when the kids are in class, padlock the school gates, chain up all the bikes out side and let em present driving licences, insurance etc before the bike is released. Nick anybody that lets an underage kid take a bike of theirs onto a public highway.

My school, if you wanted to cycle to school, you had to stay behind after school, take a proper safety course and sit exams. I know its a quantum leap for the Thai education authorites to take preventative measures, but maybe somewhere in the upcoming generation of Thais, is a young Thai reading this post who may have some effect on the carnage in years to come. It is beyond this generations grasp and I don't expect anything to change, nor do I offer a load of should, coulds and why nots. It is beyond their mental capacity to forward plan.

Anybody from Phuket here see the carnage on Patong Hill this morning? A half asssed re-surfacing program left half the road covered in marble sized stones and the Thais responded by driving faster, overtaking more and causing even more accidents than normal. I counted 5 pick ups, a cement truck and at least 10 bikes on the patong in road this morning in just one accident.

On the out side they were just clearing up another major (10 plus vehichles by the look of it) on the other side of the hill.

A 6 car pile up on here would be a quiet day!

Education and enforcement would massively reduce this waste of life.... but it won't happen, and this you really can count upon.

RIP

Edited September 21, 2007 by Dupont

[toptuan]

Whoa--let's not start the peeing contest just yet. The US may have had a road death toll of 43,000, but that makes up .01% of the population--in country with nearly 1:1 ratio of vehicles to people. A few years ago, Thailand had the highest death rate in the world. Can't remember the %, but it was quite scary.

The ratio of traffic fatalities to population in Thailand is 4 (four) times that of the USA.

On another vein, I was interested to note the word "slain" in this Nation article--a word usually reserved for a homicide. Then, after reading about the idiotic actions of the perpetrator and resulting carnage--yes, I would have to agree with the word usage of the journalist--it's murder in my book, too.

Edited September 21, 2007 by toptuan

[brahmburgers]

concolences to the lovely woman who died.

In a weird way, it's 'survival of the fittest' - the part where the 'fitter' segment of the species (read; smarter) are more likely to survive and procreate and therefore pass their genes on to subsequent generations.

in the troubled areas of the Middle East, the habit of killing their own (suicice bombers, honor killings, etc) keeps a bit of a lid on overpopulation.

In Thailand, it's erratic driving that serves a similar function.

[toptuan]

concolences to the lovely woman who died.

In a weird way, it's 'survival of the fittest' - the part where the 'fitter' segment of the species (read; smarter) are more likely to survive and procreate and therefore pass their genes on to subsequent generations.

in the troubled areas of the Middle East, the habit of killing their own (suicice bombers, honor killings, etc) keeps a bit of a lid on overpopulation.

In Thailand, it's erratic driving that serves a similar function.

To continue the theme of weird thoughts....and in the west, it's fast-food places, right?

[TAWP]

Bad driving isn't a catalyst for evolution since they tend to kill OTHERS.

[qualtrough]

concolences to the lovely woman who died.

In a weird way, it's 'survival of the fittest' - the part where the 'fitter' segment of the species (read; smarter) are more likely to survive and procreate and therefore pass their genes on to subsequent generations.

in the troubled areas of the Middle East, the habit of killing their own (suicice bombers, honor killings, etc) keeps a bit of a lid on overpopulation.

In Thailand, it's erratic driving that serves a similar function.

The 'survival of the fittest' scenario would be so if only those who drove like idiots died. Unfortunately the idiots often survive the accidents they cause, while others die--this particular accident being a case in point.

[Big A]

Well then, they (the wreckless drivers) deserve all they get.

Whenever we (my Thai wife & I) we hear a skid and honking of horns, we hope for a crashing sound and blood and guts spread everywhere.

Sorry, but Thailand has hardened us. Even she (being a Thai) said that she wouldn't help or phone an ambulance for w*nkers in such conditions.

Som nam naa is her buzzword.

OK. Let the comments about us being heartless basta*ds roll from all you compassionate folks!!

Edited September 22, 2007 by Big A