Errant Bamboo Missile Kills Spectator At Festival

Errant bamboo missile kills spectator at festival

SAKON NAKHON: -- An out-of-control bamboo rocket killed a young woman and seriously injured a man at the rocket festival in Sakon Nakhon’s Phang Khone district, police said yesterday.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening at the Phang Khone municipality’s bangfai (bamboo rocket) contest when one of the rockets spun and plunged into a group of people 500 metres from the launch-base, said Major Supoj Nasathit of Muang Sakon Nakhon police station.

He said the rocket rammed into Prapassorn Saiyarat, 19, and Watchara Chaimayo, 20, who were sitting together. Prapassorn died later in hospital due to severe loss of blood and Watchara had his legs amputated.

Phang Khone’s mayor Winit Mongkolsin, as host of the event, is to be charged with recklessness leading to the death, the officer said.

--THE NATION 2005-05-03