Barge, Passenger Boat Collide In Bangkok Canal

[george]

Barge, passenger boat collide in canal

BANGKOK: -- A passenger boat on Monday night crashed into a barge carrying construction materials, sending a dozen people from the smaller vessel overboard into San Saeb canal.

There were no casualties as all of the passengers had either been able to swim to safety or were rescued by witnesses. The accident occurred at around 9pm behind the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district.

“There were no lights lit on the barge, so I was unable to see it in time to avoid the crash,” the passenger boat’s pilot, Kraisorn Tabtimthep, 47, told police.

Police charged Kraisorn with reckless driving. Following the accident, he waited at the scene for the police to come.

“I have no intention to flee,” Kraisorn said.

Barge driver Sompong Kethorm, 53, who works for Thaiwat Company, admitted that no lights had been lit on his vessel though it was required by law. He was charged with failing to install lights.

“The barge just came out of a repair centre, so we have not yet installed the lighting,” Sompong said.

One of the passengers said the barge was moving so slowly that it appeared to be parked in the middle of the canal.

“The boat driver did his best to avoid the barge,” the passenger said, before complaining that she had been soaked with polluted canal water.

--The Nation 2004-01-21