Taxi Driver Dies Of Heart Failure Behind Wheel

[george]

Taxi driver dies of heart failure behind wheel

BANGKOK: -- A foreign passenger managed to stop a taxi safely after its driver suddenly died apparently of heart failure behind the scene Saturday morning, police said.

The taxi was on an elevated way after having left the Suvarnabhumi International Airport by about 2 kilometres when its driver, Weerapol Rungsup, 61, became unconscious.

The taxi was carrying a Thai woman, Pratya Pawapuchakang, 31, and her two foreign friends from the airport.

The woman told police that the car suddenly lost control and it sway left and pressed against the wall for several metres before her friend on the front passenger seat steered the car to park safely.

The woman and friends tried to wake up the taxi driver but found that he had already died.

-- The Nation 2008-05-17

[Guest Bellini]

That must have been scary. Luckily one passenger sat in front and knew how to deal with the situation.

[callipposhots]

I always sit in the front in taxis.

[Bagwan]

Given the way Thais drive I would have thought the farang passengers were more susceptible to a heart attack.

[Scott]

My condolences to the family of the victim.

I can't count the number of times that I thought I was going to have a heart attack while riding in a taxi!

[Q_Q_Dude]

My condolences

[Flatouthruthefog]

That must have been scary. Luckily one passenger sat in front and knew how to deal with the situation.

Quite right, but honestly I DO hate the sloppy English used in most of these reports. Or (more insidiously) is this the Thai way of avoiding responsibility? Or in this case helping the dead man to do so?

Did you notice that it was "the car lost control"? How many times have we read that "the bus lost control and crashed off the bridge"?

I am sick and tired of competent machines - built by internationally acclaimed makers - being blamed for the incompetence, drunkeness or (tragically in this case) the death of their operators.

Will sub editors all over Thailand please WAKE UP and CLEAN UP YOUR ACT and stop blaming inanimate objects?

Did the Mercedes want to mow down a Bangkok bus queue? No. Did the 1-2-GO plane suddenly want to explore the greenery alongside the runway? No.

Please, when writing this turgid stuff, focus on the dipstick behind the wheel. Or in this case, the dead man's hand.