Young Couple Killed In Phuket Horror Smash

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Young couple killed in Phuket horror smash

RASSADA, PHUKET: -- An 18-wheel truck reversing on the bypass road last night caused a car to hit a young couple’s motorbike at high speed, killing them both.

Witthaya Kwianyon, 22, and his 18-year-old girlfriend Panatda Butrasan were killed instantly after their bike lost its balance and collided with the truck.

The car, driven by 40-year-old Korean national Lee Joong Park, crossed over the median strip and smashed into another car before coming to rest upside down.

Mr Park survived the accident.

Police say they will prosecute the driver of the 18-wheeler, who fled the scene.

Duty Officer Thada Sodarak of Phuket City Police received a report of the accident around 8:40pm.

At the scene, police and Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation workers found the 18-wheeler blocking part of the southbound lane of the bypass road opposite Phuket Bypass Wood Trading, around two kilometers north of Tesco Lotus.

Beneath the truck was a smashed Yamaha Fino.

Between the front wheels was the body of Mr Witthaya, listed as a resident of Kathu.

He suffered massive head trauma from the impact.

About 50 meters away was the body of Miss Panatda, who also lived in Kathu.

Her limbs and neck were broken and she suffered a massive facial injury.

Rescue workers took the bodies to Vachira Phuket Hospital for examination.

On the northbound lane was a car with a crushed hood. Nearby was Mr Park’s car, which was upside down.

Mr Park, wounded and still inside, was rushed to hospital by rescue workers.

Witnesses told police the 18-wheeler had been moving backwards and forwards on the road.

Mr Park’s vehicle hit the back of the couple’s motorbike as both parties swerved at high speed to avoid the truck, they said.

Mr Witthaya was still on the bike when it slid under the truck, while Miss Panatda came off and was knocked along the road by Mr Park’s car.

Lt Thada said he would contact the driver’s company to find and prosecute him for careless driving causing death.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-05-05

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[thaibutty]

I have past that accident just about half an hour later, the truck was still standing on the road blocking one lane, with a smashed motorbike, reduced to a quarter of the usual size, underneath. The cars of the rescue workers and the other crashed cars still there. It was clear to me that the driver of the motorbike could not have survived the impact.

Very sad accident, on a very dangerous road. The bypass road is probably the most dangerous road for motorbike drivers, as cars are always speeding and driving even more recklessly than in other parts of Phuket.

Another thing that I really hate is these huge crowds of people hanging around these accident sites. At this particular site, there were 100's of people on both sides of Bypass Road.

If only they would learn from the accidents they just love to watch so much...