American podiatrist killed by motorcycle hit-and-run in Bangkok

Dr. Ian Furness of Fon du Lac, Wisconsin

BANGKOK: -- A well-known American foot and ankle surgeon was hit and killed by a motorcycle on the streets of Bangkok recently.

Dr. Ian Furness, from Wisconsin, was vacationing in Bangkok and walking down a street on Nov. 23 when he was hit by a hit-and-run motorcycle, according to the Fon du Lac Reporter.

Furness founded the Family Foot Clinic in Fon du Lac, Wisconsin in 1984.

According to the clinic’s website, Furness graduated from Marquette University and earned a doctorate in 1980 from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago.

Full story: http://www.coconutsb...run-in-bangkok/

-- COCONUTS Bangkok 2012-11-30

Are there attacks on tourist this year as compared to previous years?

So did this occur on a road or pavement?

So did this occur on a road or pavement?

I had exactly the same thought when I read the headline, I've had to dodge so many motorcycle taxis in the Sukhamvit road area because the roads are full and they can't be bothered waiting for a red light to change.

Edited November 30, 201213 yr by sandrabbit

Not such a stupid question...pavement or road. It is bad enough when they are on the pavement just poodling along...but I've seen them going waaay too fast, laughing at the farang who had to jump out of their way. I would dearly love to just pull them off their bikes but knowing the Thais..... one day when I least expect it ...baam !

podiatrist ? i never heard of this before and thougt it was a collector of iphones or the like ..........doh!

no doubt this guy has helped many suffering from this line of medical procedure, hope they find the idiot responsible .RIP

pathways/sidewalks do not exist in Thailand, they are called moped express lanes

RIP

So this comes to light a week after the event via a reporter in the USA? Local press missed it?

Poor bugger.

pathways/sidewalks do not exist in Thailand, they are called moped express lanes

RIP

In Silom they're known as subprime commercial properties

RIP to the deceased, but looking at the thread title, I wonder if this would have got the same attention if the victim wasn't a renowned doctor.

looks like they were trying to keep it quiet,

guess they don't want the tourist's to know'

they might loose some $$$$$

So this comes to light a week after the event via a reporter in the USA? Local press missed it?

Poor bugger.

This was also in the newspaper we can not name.

We see the motorcycle death toll and indeed incompetent drivers are responsible for many, yet it is probably the incompetent riders who are responsible for the greater amount. There are many things to like about Thailand but the roads are not one of them, amazing how quickly a life can be snubbed out by anothers abject stupidity and often indifference. Many times on walks I have had bikes zoom past me from behind by centimeters, I now walk head on to them with an umbrella pointed at head height, seems to keep them at a fair distance now.

This is a tragedy. Condolences to the Furness family. The doctor was just one of many victims of hit and run in Thailand. It is a national disgrace. It wasn't even reported by the Thai press, and we have no idea the circumstances and location, not that that knowledge would bring Dr. Furness back to life, but might illustrate a degree of diligence on the part of the Thai press..

Although Dr. Furness' killer is a lowly motorcycle driver, hit and runs rarely if ever are followed up and punished as a serious crime. Just look at the Ferrari cop killing months ago, a major news hit and run as the result of the high profile Red Bull family driver and associated police collusion, and obstruction of justice. We might wonder if Dr. Furness got the body dragging tour of Bangkok streets while he was attached to the motorcycle like the police officer run down by the Ferrari during his hit and run killing in Thonglor?

The police may give the appearance of following up on this if the family of Dr. Furness challenges Thai police, however the degree of follow up will be only token and perhaps not at all. The Ferrari cop killer has yet to be indicted or formally charged for anything , including the hit and run killing, bribery, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol corruption, and conspiracy with police to "cover up" the true perpetrator, the son of Red Bull corporate leader and founder's grandson.

So Dr. Furness' family may want to look at this Ferrari case as a vivid example of lack of Thai police diligence, follow up, payoffs, coverup, and suppression of news. Again, condolences to the family of Dr. Furness, and best of luck in trying to gather information and motivate the police to follow up and enforce the law.

rip ...its a fxxken disgrace ..hope they catch the bastard ....

Sad story. RIP

I too puzzled at the lack of detail on this story.

How cheap is life in Thailand?

As cheap as it gets.

This was also in the newspaper we can not name.

we are not allowed to name a certain newspaper here? How ridiculous would that be?

podiatrist ? i never heard of this before and thougt it was a collector of iphones or the like ..........doh!

So you learnt something today, good for you!

As so many have already said, it would be good to know if it was crossing a road or on the pavement. Not that it will make any difference to the deceased or his family. RIP.

RIP to the deceased, but looking at the thread title, I wonder if this would have got the same attention if the victim wasn't a renowned doctor.

Probably not but it is legitimate news unlike the stories of expats dying of old age at home.

o

So did this occur on a road or pavement?

Not important the bike riders will ride on both and you have to get out of thier way or get hit. TIT

Was this an attempted robbery which has morphed into an innocuous and unfortunate traffic accident with the help of the authorities in order to avoid any "damage to Thailand's reputation"?

o

So did this occur on a road or pavement?

Not important the bike riders will ride on both and you have to get out of thier way or get hit. TIT

There is a third option. I hit them.

There's an ongoing trend in Thailand tourism areas.

If tourists can't speak Thai, don't know sh*£** about this country, if they are on the open street in unprotected areas... Kill them, or poison them, bribe money out of their pockets, while they are vulnerable.

Edited December 1, 201213 yr by MaxLee

So did this occur on a road or pavement?

Good question Pedro.

podiatrist ? i never heard of this before and thougt it was a collector of iphones or the like ..........doh!

So you learnt something today, good for you!

As so many have already said, it would be good to know if it was crossing a road or on the pavement. Not that it will make any difference to the deceased or his family. RIP.

By pavement, I suppose everyone means Side walk.................no where else on earth do I look both ways while walking on the sidewalks but Bangkok - saw a stream of motorbikes (won't distinguish them by nameing them motorcycles) on the sidewalk on Wireless -almost got hit severaltimes and yelled out loud "Where is a cop when you need them?? then out iof the blue, a motorcycle cop came buzzing by On The Sidewalk.......right behind all the law breakers

TIT

My understanding is that it is legal for somebody on a motorbike to use the pavement if the roads are busy. TIT.

My understanding is that it is legal for somebody on a motorbike to use the pavement if the roads are busy. TIT.

Motorbike taxi guy once told me it's a 400THB fine. It's against the law but like most traffic laws here just hot enforced.

Time to carry a baseball bat whilst walking on footpath.....could make new sport out of it.....home run