Two Walking British Tourists Killed By Crash In Koh Samui

[theajarn]

Took me a while to write something. Its not breaking news is it ---it happened on the 23rd of march , what happened too embarrassed to publish it. Probably saved up on their pension for a trip to Thailand..... So sad. Resting in peace is unfortunately all they can do, its a shame they cant haunt the bastard.

Well... the idiot who caused it is in the hospital, if that's any consolation.

[BrooklynNY]

orosee

"So actually, nothing happened to you? Strange coincidence, a lot of nothing happened to me today, too. Makes you think..."

It was like a miracle though that there were two motorbikes crashed and one of the motorbike lost its control lunging toward me and its force threw me up in the air and I landed on my back to the ground. I was standing on a side walk. Nobody nearby but me who got hurt and I was fortunate that I had only bruise on my stomach and a sprained finger. People who saw the accident told me that I was very fortunate not killed from the way the motor bike hit me, they saw me thrown up in the air. At that very moment I heard people were screaming while the motorbike lunging at me.

If I died that day, my family in the States would not know of my death because I did not tell them where I was in Thailand and my friend who was with me at that time did not have any info of my family in the States.

The motor biker did not pay for any compensation of my medical bills, he gave the police his fake address. He did not even have a driver license and his motor bike was uninsured, was not registered and had no license plate. He paid fine 400 THB.

I am back in the States now but that accident has disturbed me emotionally.

Edited March 25, 2013 by BrooklynNY

[Scorpio1949]

RIP

[SamuiBicycleTours]

The accident happened 200 meters from my house. The pick up which is often seen driving fast, over taking dangerously was the main cause of this crash. The driver is in a coma and as reported in the Thai press will go to prison should he wake up.

The driver of the pickup, a modified late model utility vehicle with tires too wide for the body did attempt to overtake late. The on coming vehicle had no where to go so this ute driver swerved back onto the right side of the road, however he hadn't cleared the vehicle he was overtaking clipping it, putting his car sideways which then collected the two innocent British tourists sending them through the bamboo tea hut on the side of the road and wrapping his car around a tree. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Both would not have known what hit them.

It was a horrible and unnecessary scene which we see all too often here in Thailand. With an average of 72+ deaths DAILY it is a scary place to ride a bicycle or even cross the roads. It seems as the roads improve here on Samui the speeds increase.

It is rare to see Police enforcing anything here. Like one Member said in a post a few weeks ago "if it was a disease killing 26,000 people a year the Government would be spending millions to control it"

Paragraph removed to spare family .

Edited March 25, 2013 by Rooo
Unnecessary details.

[jinners]

Terrible: RIP guys

[AverageAussie]

Yes, a tragic story and every death & injury (local resident or visitor) is one too many. RIP.

Sadly, I think we'll continue to read these stories until there is a fundamental change in behavior. And that won't happen until there is education and proper ENFORCEMENT of the rules.

[Unwisemonkey]

I'm getting tired of seeing stuff like this. Not just for Expats, and tourists, because I think Thai's deserve better too. I saw a Facebook post going around yesterday of a novice monk about 12 years old who was a victim of a hit and run. He was completely wasted. The question is not should we [expatriates] do something about this state of affairs. Of course we should. We have as vested an interest in the safety of our community as anyone else despite being encouraged directly or passively to remain quiet and not rock the boat as second class citizens.

The question is can we? What would it take? Would we need a foreigner with Thai citizenship to support politically? Or should we find a Thai politician that is a reformer and rejects the idiosyncrasies of Thai culture that are holding Thai culture back? Would we get in trouble for supporting political agenda's financially? Thai's need to learn to drive safely, this is not debatable at this point, licenses for cars, cement trucks, bus drivers all need endorsement stamps and specialized training, and I don't see anything wrong with donating ฿1000 for a political cause of community safety. Many of us, myself included have children living here. This is not a matter of culture and doing things Thai style, or "westernizing Thailand" it is just simply common sense.

[fvw53]

I am staying in Thailand since 25 years and twice I have to Koh Samui : first in 1989 and a second time in 2004...During each visit I was stunned by the speed of the cars on the mostly narrow main road which goes nearly full circle around the island.

If there are statistics available on how many people are killed on that road every year, I think it would be a reason to avoid this island.

[robia6]

Awful

[robertson468]

This is so scary, in many ways. First, I run along this road with my labrador, nearly every day, but mind you I run facing the oncoming traffic. I try very hard to run on the pavement, but can't always due to cars/trucks/motor bikes/building materials left on the pavement, not to mention other dogs attacking us! Secondly, just a few hours ago, returning from the laundry I witnessed exactly the same circumstances of how this accident happened, very nearly happening again, this time a white Toyota Camry being driven on a death wish. So far I have avoided being involved in any road accidents, but I believe more by luck than judgement, although I do drive quite slowly and try to anticipate what everyone else might do on the road near me - some motorist's/rider's actions are of course so unbelievable that one does not have a hope in hell of anticipating what might happen next.

RIP Guys and condolences to their Families. They got up that sunny morning, no doubt full of the joys of spring, little realizing it was to be their last on Paradise Island.

[Marlow999]

RIP.

It happened to me the similar crash in Rayong in March last year. I called it near death experience. I could have been killed or have become paralyzed. I could have been killed cheaply in Thailand as a roadside victim.

Sorry to hear that, what exactly happened to you, were you badly hurt?

[robertthebruce]

A Terrible Tragedy....

Poor guys, R.I.P.

[Mitker]

More needless deaths on the island!

I think we all agree there is no pleasure in driving around Samui

and I personally avoid going anywhere unless I really to, and when I do rive it

is rare that I do not see a near miss.

We all have to drive around compensating for other drivers

and I often wonder just how many accidents you would cause if you did not slam

on your breaks, swerve out of the way and generally use your skills to

compensate for others lack of consideration for safety.

How many times have we all seen vehicles, especially mini

busses going at break neck speed and overtaking in lines of traffic and on

blind bends only to get one car ahead, stop at lights, turn left or right or

sometimes just simply pull over. Risking lives for seemingly no reason.

A few months ago I put an article in the paper asking for us

as a community to come together to do something about this problem. I don’t have

the solution but did think about workshops, or visiting schools with hard

hitting presentations to get kids to listen before they just think it is OK to

drive like lunatics.

We have mostly all lost family and friends to the roads of

Samui and the long term residents it is a frightening number.

Can we not think of something proactive we can do to help

this situation?

I did think about going around with a paint gun with red and

yellow paint shots. Then promoting the fact that if you find a red splodge on

your car or your back when you get home you are lucky you did not kill yourself

or somebody else, if you find a yellow one you get a gold star for being a

careful driver! OK this is not practical but maybe we should get the number

plates of bad drivers and put them on a wall of shame on the island somewhere

so people can see how close they came to ruining lives let alone holidays!

Does anybody have any ideas?

A first, easy and practical move could be a campaign providing stickers to be placed on the rear of his car by anyone willing to participate.

This sticker would just state that the car's driver is tired of the Thai roads turned into a killing field, wishes driving was a pleasant experience instead and commits himself to drive responsibly.

Nobody loses face and some readers may even start thinking. Ones hopes.

Similar campaigns exists in other countries. With a good communication design, they just kick off.

[ratio]

So sad ,enjoying there holiday to taken in this way , condolences to their families.

[yummypizza]

RIP, there's really nothing to say here,that hasn't already been said a thousand times before, so very sad...

[laislica]

More needless deaths on the island!

I think we all agree there is no pleasure in driving around Samui

and I personally avoid going anywhere unless I really to, and when I do rive it

is rare that I do not see a near miss.

We all have to drive around compensating for other drivers

and I often wonder just how many accidents you would cause if you did not slam

on your breaks, swerve out of the way and generally use your skills to

compensate for others lack of consideration for safety.

How many times have we all seen vehicles, especially mini

busses going at break neck speed and overtaking in lines of traffic and on

blind bends only to get one car ahead, stop at lights, turn left or right or

sometimes just simply pull over. Risking lives for seemingly no reason.

A few months ago I put an article in the paper asking for us

as a community to come together to do something about this problem. I don’t have

the solution but did think about workshops, or visiting schools with hard

hitting presentations to get kids to listen before they just think it is OK to

drive like lunatics.

We have mostly all lost family and friends to the roads of

Samui and the long term residents it is a frightening number.

Can we not think of something proactive we can do to help

this situation?

I did think about going around with a paint gun with red and

yellow paint shots. Then promoting the fact that if you find a red splodge on

your car or your back when you get home you are lucky you did not kill yourself

or somebody else, if you find a yellow one you get a gold star for being a

careful driver! OK this is not practical but maybe we should get the number

plates of bad drivers and put them on a wall of shame on the island somewhere

so people can see how close they came to ruining lives let alone holidays!

Does anybody have any ideas?

A first, easy and practical move could be a campaign providing stickers to be placed on the rear of his car by anyone willing to participate.

This sticker would just state that the car's driver is tired of the Thai roads turned into a killing field, wishes driving was a pleasant experience instead and commits himself to drive responsibly.

Nobody loses face and some readers may even start thinking. Ones hopes.

Similar campaigns exists in other countries. With a good communication design, they just kick off.

Some lorries have signs that ask if the driver is driving badly and give a number to report him to.

Of course it would require that all vehicles were legal, registered etc.

OK, won't work, back to the drawing board.

[jitenshaman]

Hope I don't provoke too much laughter, but has the driver who caused these deaths been charged with reckless driving and manslaughter?

Hope I don't provoke too much laughter, but has the driver who caused these deaths been charged with reckless driving and manslaughter?

no, it was obviously the farangs fault. As the minister of whatever said a few weeks ago after a truck killed 2 foreign cyclists, "foreigners need to learn more about Thai laws. If you stop at a red light, you may be hit."

[crazykopite]

i live on the island the drivers are <deleted> crazy they will overtake on a 6 mtr road flashing there lights and not giving a shit who they hit. All to often when on my motorbike someone shoots out in front of you or comes so close they nearly take your wing mirror home with them and the police do not do anything about it R.I P to the two people who were killed no doubt the person who was the cause will walk away with a 20,000 baht fine there is no value to ones life in Thailand. I only go into town when I have to the amont of heavy lorries on the island is crazy and while I am at it the coach and mini bus drivers are no better My thoughts and prayers are with the two deceased and there families soon they will be using a new slogan " Come to Samui and get Killed "

[hubahuba]

More needless deaths on the island!

I think we all agree there is no pleasure in driving around Samui

and I personally avoid going anywhere unless I really to, and when I do rive it

is rare that I do not see a near miss.

We all have to drive around compensating for other drivers

and I often wonder just how many accidents you would cause if you did not slam

on your breaks, swerve out of the way and generally use your skills to

compensate for others lack of consideration for safety.

How many times have we all seen vehicles, especially mini

busses going at break neck speed and overtaking in lines of traffic and on

blind bends only to get one car ahead, stop at lights, turn left or right or

sometimes just simply pull over. Risking lives for seemingly no reason.

A few months ago I put an article in the paper asking for us

as a community to come together to do something about this problem. I don’t have

the solution but did think about workshops, or visiting schools with hard

hitting presentations to get kids to listen before they just think it is OK to

drive like lunatics.

We have mostly all lost family and friends to the roads of

Samui and the long term residents it is a frightening number.

Can we not think of something proactive we can do to help

this situation?

I did think about going around with a paint gun with red and

yellow paint shots. Then promoting the fact that if you find a red splodge on

your car or your back when you get home you are lucky you did not kill yourself

or somebody else, if you find a yellow one you get a gold star for being a

careful driver! OK this is not practical but maybe we should get the number

plates of bad drivers and put them on a wall of shame on the island somewhere

so people can see how close they came to ruining lives let alone holidays!

Does anybody have any ideas?

Seem's tome that the only vehicle to use in Thailand would be a HUMVEE. If they are good enough for the armed forces then they would be suitable on Thai roads. Let's face it, it is a war zone on the Thai roads these days.

[monkeysu]

More needless deaths on the island!

I think we all agree there is no pleasure in driving around Samui

and I personally avoid going anywhere unless I really to, and when I do rive it

is rare that I do not see a near miss.

We all have to drive around compensating for other drivers

and I often wonder just how many accidents you would cause if you did not slam

on your breaks, swerve out of the way and generally use your skills to

compensate for others lack of consideration for safety.

How many times have we all seen vehicles, especially mini

busses going at break neck speed and overtaking in lines of traffic and on

blind bends only to get one car ahead, stop at lights, turn left or right or

sometimes just simply pull over. Risking lives for seemingly no reason.

A few months ago I put an article in the paper asking for us

as a community to come together to do something about this problem. I don’t have

the solution but did think about workshops, or visiting schools with hard

hitting presentations to get kids to listen before they just think it is OK to

drive like lunatics.

We have mostly all lost family and friends to the roads of

Samui and the long term residents it is a frightening number.

Can we not think of something proactive we can do to help

this situation?

I did think about going around with a paint gun with red and

yellow paint shots. Then promoting the fact that if you find a red splodge on

your car or your back when you get home you are lucky you did not kill yourself

or somebody else, if you find a yellow one you get a gold star for being a

careful driver! OK this is not practical but maybe we should get the number

plates of bad drivers and put them on a wall of shame on the island somewhere

so people can see how close they came to ruining lives let alone holidays!

Does anybody have any ideas?

A first, easy and practical move could be a campaign providing stickers to be placed on the rear of his car by anyone willing to participate.

This sticker would just state that the car's driver is tired of the Thai roads turned into a killing field, wishes driving was a pleasant experience instead and commits himself to drive responsibly.

Nobody loses face and some readers may even start thinking. Ones hopes.

Similar campaigns exists in other countries. With a good communication design, they just kick off.

This is a great idea, I would be more than willing to get the ball rolling on this one, would anybody else be up for it?

[spidermike007]

It is the lack of police action, and an effective police department, that is the single biggest cause of the calamity called driving in Samui. Of course the lack of skill plays a big role. But, if these goombahs who have no idea where they are going, but are in the grandest hurry to get there, felt there was some penalty to pay, for driving the way they did, maybe they would slow down. Instead nobody fears the toy police, as they are the laughing stock of planet earth. Few places in the world have less competent police, nor less of a deterrent factor. 9 year old children are allowed to drive here. Drunk drivers are allowed to drive here. Motorcyclists without helmets, bikes with sidecars way overloaded, etc, etc. It is a travesty the way this island is run. Shame on the central government for not caring, and continuing to not do a thing to improve life on Samui. Shame on them.

[cup-O-coffee]

Roads in Koh Samui are some of the most dangerous in Thailand. Photo: Coconuts Bangkok

Correction: Thais who operate internal combustion vehicles are some of the most dangerous drivers in the world.

[tuyatim]

At 66 I'm nearly as old as the two gents who so tragically lost their lives, so this story hit me hard. My wife and I have a timeshare villa on Koh Samui and every time we're there we'll find ourselves walking by the roadside nearly every day. We always take care, but this story will ensure we take even more care on future visits.

I'm a keen motorist here in England and I have to agree with earlier comments about how bad the driving standards are in Samui and the rest of Thailand. But the country isn't unique in having such horrendously poor driving standards. I've travelled all over the world and have been regularly terrified at the antics of road users that appear to be the norm in so many countries. But just because everyone else is so bad, it's no excuse for those in Thailand to care so little about safety.

I'm pleased to read that some on this forum want to do something about this sorry state of affairs. I do hope they succeed. As just an occasional visitor to my island paradise of Koh Samui, there's little I can do unfortunately. But one thing will change for me when I'm there. Until now I've always sat quietly as a passenger in taxis when being driven to and from the airport and other places, cringing at the dangerous driving but not saying anything. In future I'll tell the driver that I'm not in a hurry, and certainly not in a hurry to die. I'll have to stop worrying that the driver may receive my comments as a farang's unwanted interference. Our lives are far more important than someone's feelings.

[Andre0720]

More needless deaths on the island!

I think we all agree there is no pleasure in driving around Samui

and I personally avoid going anywhere unless I really to, and when I do rive it

is rare that I do not see a near miss.

We all have to drive around compensating for other drivers

and I often wonder just how many accidents you would cause if you did not slam

on your breaks, swerve out of the way and generally use your skills to

compensate for others lack of consideration for safety.

How many times have we all seen vehicles, especially mini

busses going at break neck speed and overtaking in lines of traffic and on

blind bends only to get one car ahead, stop at lights, turn left or right or

sometimes just simply pull over. Risking lives for seemingly no reason.

A few months ago I put an article in the paper asking for us

as a community to come together to do something about this problem. I don’t have

the solution but did think about workshops, or visiting schools with hard

hitting presentations to get kids to listen before they just think it is OK to

drive like lunatics.

We have mostly all lost family and friends to the roads of

Samui and the long term residents it is a frightening number.

Can we not think of something proactive we can do to help

this situation?

I did think about going around with a paint gun with red and

yellow paint shots. Then promoting the fact that if you find a red splodge on

your car or your back when you get home you are lucky you did not kill yourself

or somebody else, if you find a yellow one you get a gold star for being a

careful driver! OK this is not practical but maybe we should get the number

plates of bad drivers and put them on a wall of shame on the island somewhere

so people can see how close they came to ruining lives let alone holidays!

Does anybody have any ideas?

A first, easy and practical move could be a campaign providing stickers to be placed on the rear of his car by anyone willing to participate.

This sticker would just state that the car's driver is tired of the Thai roads turned into a killing field, wishes driving was a pleasant experience instead and commits himself to drive responsibly.

Nobody loses face and some readers may even start thinking. Ones hopes.

Similar campaigns exists in other countries. With a good communication design, they just kick off.

This is a great idea, I would be more than willing to get the ball rolling on this one, would anybody else be up for it?

In theory, looks good. But we are in Thailand, so practically impossible.

When I sound my horn at someone driving while talking on the phone or texting, they seem like having no idea why I am doing that.

Today, I saw this car driving in a parking lot, driving back of it, moving forward a bit, backing in the street. I walked toward the car window. It was a woman doing this strange driving while talkig on the phone. I stared at her. She looked at me. Was more wondering why I was looking at her. Social pressure here does not exist. They do not care.

I saw a woman 2 days ago, just smashed her motorbike under a parked truck delivering goods at a 7-11. She was too busy talking on the phone.

They do not care, because there is NO FEAR of the non-existant police on the roads.

[MaxYakov]

At 66 I'm nearly as old as the two gents who so tragically lost their lives, so this story hit me hard. My wife and I have a timeshare villa on Koh Samui and every time we're there we'll find ourselves walking by the roadside nearly every day. We always take care, but this story will ensure we take even more care on future visits.

I'm a keen motorist here in England and I have to agree with earlier comments about how bad the driving standards are in Samui and the rest of Thailand. But the country isn't unique in having such horrendously poor driving standards. I've travelled all over the world and have been regularly terrified at the antics of road users that appear to be the norm in so many countries. But just because everyone else is so bad, it's no excuse for those in Thailand to care so little about safety.

I'm pleased to read that some on this forum want to do something about this sorry state of affairs. I do hope they succeed. As just an occasional visitor to my island paradise of Koh Samui, there's little I can do unfortunately. But one thing will change for me when I'm there. Until now I've always sat quietly as a passenger in taxis when being driven to and from the airport and other places, cringing at the dangerous driving but not saying anything. In future I'll tell the driver that I'm not in a hurry, and certainly not in a hurry to die. I'll have to stop worrying that the driver may receive my comments as a farang's unwanted interference. Our lives are far more important than someone's feelings.

Years ago, while my ex-wife was driving me around very undefensively, I conceptualized 'passenger rights' and invoked them on her. I have abandoned a Laos visa run van for the same reason just north of Kohn Kaen and got a ride with a traveling salesman. I abandoned a taxi a few weeks ago because the driver didn't know how to get me where I wanted and, in fact, was driving the wrong direction (Din Daeng to Victory Monument - a no-brainer). On a #52 bus on Chaeng Wattana, there was a cockroach nest in an unused, hollow, knitted, gearshift ball insulator that was dangling next to my right knee. I took pictures and killed them all (without touching the roaches directly). The next day, I read that a Greyhound bus in the USA was swapped-out en route because a roach nest was discovered.

A parallel concept is 'pedestrian rights' but I won't elaborate on them. I'm sure we could come up with a good list of them.

Of course, these rights have to be guaranteed to some level, but it would require both the desire and allocated resources. Apparently, neither of them are available in sufficient quantity in Thailand. My brother-in-law used to say: Poor people have poor ways.

RIP and my condolences to family and friends

[Locationthailand]

Is there any chance the truck driver is being charged or at least some of the drivers. It is an island - this means slow peaceful driving - no need to idiots in a mindless race to nowhere. Jail time required but Samui is just as corrupt - if not more so - than Bangkok police (Coco's as an example and the court cases which have taken years as one of the developers was a Thai cop). Poor Brits. So sad.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

That was another incident on the Chaweng Lake Road on Saturday night/Sunday morning and at first I thought these incidents were one and the same, but this one appears to have occurred on the Ring Road.

The Lake Road incident involved a taxi, damaged and sitting on the central reservation, next to the roundabout. There was a copious amount of blood on the road, but no sign of the victims.

[Tboy928]

What a terrible tragedy , my condolences to the family

Another normal day in the kingdom ... I wonder if any government will ever act one day to stop or at least to reduce such accidents.

Ditto on the condolences, terrible event

Laurentbkk.. how would this ever happen. When you basically can get a license from a back of a corn flakes packet, drive vehicles which have no safety checks or road worthiness ,on roads which are substandard and in a system where the basic rules are " screw you Jack, Im ok" and then donate minimal tea money rather than serious money and licence points for any slight infringement then how will it ever improve....

Lamenting the lack of change or the possibility to effectively drive change is akin to Canute ordering the waves to stop.

RIP chaps , and condolences to friends and family

In Kho Samui you need pay the Thai owner of bike or car for damages ,even it is his fault , is really a mafia island .

Was a Norwegian that crashed there some years back , and was a thai without light on his bike driving on wrong side of road , and they Keep his passport so he could not leave ,and they asked stupid amount of money, Even the Norway tv station came there and maked a story about this.

[AloisAmrein]

One more example of reckless manners of Thai drivers. It's not only very dangerous to drive a car or motorbike in Thailand, even pedestrians are not save.

[lookingeast]

More needless deaths on the island!

I think we all agree there is no pleasure in driving around Samui

and I personally avoid going anywhere unless I really to, and when I do rive it

is rare that I do not see a near miss.

We all have to drive around compensating for other drivers

and I often wonder just how many accidents you would cause if you did not slam

on your breaks, swerve out of the way and generally use your skills to

compensate for others lack of consideration for safety.

How many times have we all seen vehicles, especially mini

busses going at break neck speed and overtaking in lines of traffic and on

blind bends only to get one car ahead, stop at lights, turn left or right or

sometimes just simply pull over. Risking lives for seemingly no reason.

A few months ago I put an article in the paper asking for us

as a community to come together to do something about this problem. I don’t have

the solution but did think about workshops, or visiting schools with hard

hitting presentations to get kids to listen before they just think it is OK to

drive like lunatics.

We have mostly all lost family and friends to the roads of

Samui and the long term residents it is a frightening number.

Can we not think of something proactive we can do to help

this situation?

I did think about going around with a paint gun with red and

yellow paint shots. Then promoting the fact that if you find a red splodge on

your car or your back when you get home you are lucky you did not kill yourself

or somebody else, if you find a yellow one you get a gold star for being a

careful driver! OK this is not practical but maybe we should get the number

plates of bad drivers and put them on a wall of shame on the island somewhere

so people can see how close they came to ruining lives let alone holidays!

Does anybody have any ideas?

Move?; seriously, relocate - i will in the near future.