Canadian, 81, Injured In Phuket Car Crash

[Lite Beer]

Canadian, 81, injured in Phuket car crash

Phuket Gazette

Canadian Mr Bellach refuted the van driver’s claim he cut off the van, which was en route to Phuket Town from Phuket Airport. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar,

The Suzuki SJ413, sold in Phuket as a Suzuki Caribbean, was once among the best-selling vehicles on the island. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar.

PHUKET: An 81-year-old Canadian man who sustained head injuries in a two-vehicle collision on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket yesterday evening is now calling for speed limits to be posted in built up areas.

Thalang Police at 6pm were notified of an accident at the notorious u-turn in front of the Provincial Electric Authority substation in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn subdistrict, yesterday.

Arriving at the scene with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers, they found a badly-damaged Suzuki SJ413 jeep on its side.

The driver, Guenter Bellach, sustained a gash to the top of his head and was bleeding heavily when helped from the vehicle by rescue workers.

The other vehicle, a yellow-plated passenger van, was damaged on the front driver’s side.

The van driver, 30-year-old Aekkarat Yod-iat, told police he was heading southbound when the jeep pulled out in front of him, making it impossible for him to stop in time.

Mr Bellach, a German-born Canadian who still works part time as a surveyor, had a different version of the events.

Speaking from Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he spent the night, he said he saw the van coming, but estimated that he had time to complete the u-turn and cross over into the slow lane before the van arrived.

“If he had [the van driver] just stayed in his lane, nothing would have happened. Instead he tried to pass me on the left. He doesn’t know how to drive,” Mr Bellach said.

Mr Bellach called for speed limits to be posted in built up areas so that accidents will be avoided in the future.

He underwent a computed tomography scan at the hospital, which indicated no signs of internal injury, and has been cleared by doctors to return home this afternoon.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article16464.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-07-20

[Hostile17]

thai man for trying to go by the left of a uturner instead of just slowing down a little bit

and the farang for thinking that someone coming on a fast road will know that he was going to get out of the fast lane when most ppl just uturn and put the emergency brake and have a lunch/dinner/siesta in the fast lane .

logically if the farang had done his uturn FAST it could not of happened, so he must of turned very slowly toward the slow lane.

Edited July 20, 2012 by LivinginKata
yet another inflammatory remark removed

[JoePai]

Give him a break - he is 81

[stevenl]

Give him a break - he is 81

So because he is 81 he does not have to adjust to other traffic?

[steelepulse]

Well we all know how fast these vans drive, so it's no wonder he couldn't stop/break in time and tried an illegal manoeuvre. Earning a living as a driver in Phuket, he should know how crappy everyone drives, regardless if they are 81 or not. As for the 81 yo that got hit, he should allow himself extra time for all actions when behind the wheel. Red card to the van driver, yellow card to the 81 yo.

[richard_smith237]

I see all the time how drivers in Thailand have a real difficulty finding the brake pedal when someone is pulling out in front of them.

They first flash their lights and speed up to intimidate the other driver not to pull out.

If he does, they refuse to break instead getting very close to them as if to make a point.

Cars would rather squeeze through an impossible gap than to apply their brakes for a second or two.

I can only guess at this incident but from the comments I can assume that the 81 year old in the Suzuki pulled out instead of waiting longer and drove across to the left hand lane. The van driver was going too fast and instead of braking a little attempted to under-take the Suzuki and failed.

It appears that the fault lies with the road design, speeding van driver and slow Suzuki driver. Many roads here and designed by idiots and when idiots drive them more accidents happen.

[Old Croc]

Give him a break - he is 81

So because he is 81 he does not have to adjust to other traffic?

If you read his web page you will see he is a very young and fit 81 yo.

[Valentine]

The 'U' turns are a necessary evil as there seems to be no will or money to build overhead 'U' turns which would also mean a long s....t fight to purchase the land needed. Unless you have a vehicle with quick acceleration you can end up waiting a long time. As other posters have said flashing lights rather than slowing down is the preferred method for the oncoming traffic as it is soooo important to get to the next set of lights just that few seconds quicker.

[Payboy]

He doesn't know how to drive, Mr Bellach said.

[Semper]

he said he saw the van coming, but estimated that he had time to complete the u-turn and cross over into the slow lane before the van arrived

His estimation was obviously a tad off.

[phl]

I believe in his country of birth and previous country of residence he would not have a license at the age of 81