Welsh Family Killed In Thai Crash

[markuk]

The former captain of a west Wales rugby club has died with his wife and sister in a car crash on the way to an airport to fly home from Thailand.

The three were killed when their taxi was in a head-on crash in Chiang Mai.

They were Kenneth Ford, 49, ex-captain and full-back of Trimsaran Rugby Club, near Llanelli, his Thai-born wife Lyn, and sister Violet Sarikas, 51, from Burry Port.

Mrs Ford's daughter Hoi, 14, and the taxi driver were both seriously hurt.

The family was nearing the end of a two-week trip visiting relatives before Christmas.

The former opencast mine worker, who more recently worked as a heavy plant operator, had one son from a previous marriage. He married his Thai wife seven years ago after a whirlwind romance.

He played rugby here almost since he could walk and was a great little full-back.

Friend and rugby club secretary Stewart Jones

The couple had settled in Trimsaran but returned regularly to Thailand to visit Mrs Ford's family and on this last occasion Mr Ford's sister had gone with them.

They were in the north of the country and were making their way back to Bangkok for a flight back to the UK when the accident happened.

The Foreign Office confirmed the road accident was being investigated by Thai Police.

"Initial enquires reveal that the above persons were travelling in a taxi to the airport when the collision occurred," a police spokesman said.

"A fourth passenger in the taxi, who is believed to be a relative of the three deceased, is also believed to have been seriously injured," he said.

'Popular character'

The taxi driver is reported to be in intensive care following the accident, according to information from the British Embassy in Thailand.

Trimsaran Rugby Club secretary and Mr Ford's close friend Stewart Jones said: "He was a popular character and had friends all over the county.

"He played rugby here almost since he could walk and was a great little full-back.

"He was the life and soul of the party after a game. He was also a close personal friend. We'll all miss him, Lyn and Violet, very much."

Mrs Sarikas had grown up in the same Gwendraeth valley village as her brother and moved to Burry Port following her marriage.

Arrangements were being made to fly the bodies home for a funeral after an inquest has been opened.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/4541256.stm