Death of U.S. Citizens Abroad by Non-Natural Causes

Important Note: The information below should not be considered a statistically complete account of U.S. citizen deaths in foreign countries during the reporting period. Only those deaths reported to the Department of State and deaths that can be established as non-natural are included. Most American citizens who die abroad were resident abroad and surviving family members might not inform the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of the death. The report may not include some deaths of U.S. military or U.S. government officials. Identifying information is omitted for privacy. The table excludes countries where, during the reporting period, no deaths met the above criteria.

Thailand Report - Death by Non-Natural Causes
(From 1-2012 To 12-2012)

12-20-2012 Rawai, Mueang Phuket, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

12-16-2012 A. Muang, Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Auto

12-08-2012 Prachathipat, Thanyaburi, Thailand Drug-Related

11-26-2012 Bangkok, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

11-23-2012 Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

11-19-2012 A. Wichianburi, Phetchabun, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

11-14-2012 A. Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

09-10-2012 Prawet, Bangkok, Thailand Suicide

09-10-2012 Mueang Kanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

09-03-2012 Kathu, Phuket, Thailand Suicide

08-13-2012 Chiang Mai, Thailand Other Accident

07-30-2012 Mueang, Udon Thani, Thailand Suicide

07-20-2012 Kathu, Phuket, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

06-24-2012 A. Hangdong , Chiang Mai, Thailand Other Accident

06-12-2012 Kathu, Phuket, Thailand Drowning

06-09-2012 Muang, Sakon Nakorn, Thailand Other Accident

05-30-2012 A. Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, Thailand Homicide

05-24-2012 Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand Other Accident

04-21-2012 Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Motorcycle

04-20-2012 Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand Drowning

04-15-2012 Muang, Nong Khai, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Auto

04-15-2012 Muang, Nong Khai, Thailand Vehicle Accident - Auto

04-10-2012 Chang Phuak, Chiang Mai, Thailand Other Accident

04-01-2012 Bang Lamung, Chonburi, Thailand Suicide

03-21-2012 Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai, Thailand Suicide

Source: http://travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/death/death_600.html?country=0

U.S. Department of State
-- travel.state.gov 2013-04-30

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

As is often mentioned here, I wonder if this is statistically significantly compared to the number of U.S. citizens who live/vacation in Thailand. It does seem like something people planning to visit should be aware - especially the fact that vehicular deaths seem to be a large number of the deaths - hopefully, if people had this information - they would be more cautious before renting motorcycles and taking busses and vans.

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

Yeah, I'm sure thats it...

Most probably many go unreported,So many foreigners in Thailand save the grim reaper the ride,and bikes-slow down better late in this world than early in the next.

Of all the people we read about dying in Pattaya, there is surprisingly only one listed in Chonburi that could possibly be Pattaya....or not. But a few in Phuket.

Sad to see the suicides

R.I.P. my fellow Americans

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

More likely they made the mistake of buying a bus ticket rather then flying.

All this proves is that some Americans can't ride motorbikes properly. If Americans moved to UK they'd buy a car, but here they buy a motorbike. That explains almost all the deaths. From what I've read, many of these deaths are because they were drunk and/or not wearing helmets. This is more about the type of people that get killed not that it's anything to do with Thailand. They should be grown up enough that they know they should take lessons before riding a bike, and also wear a helmet and not drive after drinking alcohol. Blame the Americans not the Thais.

In Bermuda, where foreigners can not rent cars, only motorbikes, the death rate among tourists is so high the government considers it to be a state secret and refuses to release the stats.

Americans are the majority tourist group and driving on the opposite side of the road is certainly a factor, especially at roundabouts.

An average of two per month. The bottom listing was a suicide in my town and on my 60th b'day. Wish I had met the guy and we could have spoken prior. ....same for others who contemplate suicide. Depression happens. I feel myself sinking there sometimes. One thing I do is; self-counseling. Essentially: no one controls my thoughts but me (there's more to it, but 'nuff for now).

Also, I could have been one of those statistics. On Feb.5 this year I fell 20 ft. through a roof on to a cement slab. fractured both wrists and broke a heel bone. Still recovering. Could easily been curtains.

oh too many ! RIP to you all

Was someone blaming Thais? As for motorbike deaths, take a look at the statistic for Ozzie and Brit deaths on motorbikes since they outnumber Americans by a large amount. Motorbike riding is a risk anywhere, but especially in SEA.

Why no names? Surely it would be better to list the names so that people who read the list and know of omissions can notify the relevant authority?

I wonder how many Thai families are still picking up the pension payments years after their American benefactors death?.

It might be worth noting that it does not say who is driving.

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

Interesting idea. Americans are driving a rover around on Mars right now, pretty hard to believe they cannot figure out which side of the road to drive on in Thailand......

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

I suspect Americans forgetting that drinking impairs their driving here too, despite low risk of being arresting for it here. That and no helmets...

/TV-CSI

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

More likely they made the mistake of buying a bus ticket rather then flying.

Strange I don't see bus accident mentioned once in the list, but a lot of motorcycle accident.

You mean the motorcycles crashed into the bus the Americans were sitting in ?

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

really...

from the OP

Most American citizens who die abroad were resident abroad and surviving family members might not inform the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of the death. The report may not include some deaths of U.S. military or U.S. government officials. Identifying information is omitted for privacy.

Why no names? Surely it would be better to list the names so that people who read the list and know of omissions can notify the relevant authority?

I wonder how many Thai families are still picking up the pension payments years after their American benefactors death?.

What that has to do with the names been published on the open forum.

Since the list is compiled by the US departement of state. I assume they know the names.

Sure are a lot of vehicle accidents. Americans possibly forgetting which side of the road to drive on.

Interesting idea. Americans are driving a rover around on Mars right now, pretty hard to believe they cannot figure out which side of the road to drive on in Thailand......

I used to have a Rover.

As is often mentioned here, I wonder if this is statistically significantly compared to the number of U.S. citizens who live/vacation in Thailand. It does seem like something people planning to visit should be aware - especially the fact that vehicular deaths seem to be a large number of the deaths - hopefully, if people had this information - they would be more cautious before renting motorcycles and taking busses and vans.

yeah that is "safe"

a lot of motorcycle accidents could have been avoided if the authorities enforced the law of motorcycles must have the headlights on when in motion. don't you think?

Conclusions by the geriatric TV bunch are again drawn on assumption of unstated facts. A topic like this sure draws the idiots into the open. It isn't any wonder that Thais think farang are stupid.

All this proves is that some Americans can't ride motorbikes properly. If Americans moved to UK they'd buy a car, but here they buy a motorbike. That explains almost all the deaths. From what I've read, many of these deaths are because they were drunk and/or not wearing helmets. This is more about the type of people that get killed not that it's anything to do with Thailand. They should be grown up enough that they know they should take lessons before riding a bike, and also wear a helmet and not drive after drinking alcohol. Blame the Americans not the Thais.

Many tourists, American or otherwise, come to Thailand and rent motorcycles, with no experience or qualifications. Maybe a motorcycle attachment, to one's license, should be required for rental. After all, it is the law in Thailand.

As far as SEA being less safe than "Western" countries, I believe it's actually safer than many; much safer than North America. Here, the bikes are less powerful, the speeds are usually lower, and, more importantly, bikes are an expected mix in the traffic. In North America, motorcyclists are all but invisible to motorists.

Given number of American here riding bikes, 3 per month isn't exceptional.The number of Thais would be far higher, even per 1,000. I've been riding a bike for 10 years in Chiang Mai, I've never had any accidents, even close shaves are negligible, I always where a helmet, always pay attention, never ride more than 70km usually.

During a couple of years living in Pattaya one of the main non-natural causes of death for all foreigners was falling out of a balcony

Virtual traveler: "Given number of American here riding bikes, 3 per month isn't exceptional.The number of Thais would be far higher, even per 1,000. I've been riding a bike for 10 years in Chiang Mai, I've never had any accidents, even close shaves are negligible, I always where a helmet, always pay attention, never ride more than 70km usually. "

The report is for a 1 year period and it shows 8 motorcycle accidents not 3 per month. Four happened in a 2 week period in November. BTW there were 4 in 2011 and 6 in 2010.

Interesting to note that of the 26 motorcycle accidents listed, only one was in Bangkok. Seems the 'herd mentality' is a good thing in regards to riding in the city - don't stray from what everyone else is doing. You could conclude that being out in the provinces what with the lower population density is conducive to foolhardiness.

Tie this in with the stats from a previous thread that there were no(?) serious accidents reported in either Chonburi or Phuket over this past Songkran. Seems maybe there are unwritten rules that expats learn to follow in the major farang centers of Pattaya, Phuket and BKK... perhaps the network of whiteys allows them to clue in one another on how to carry one's self on the road here, or maybe avoid it altogether.

Why do so many of these topics turn into a country bashing or state assumptions that are totally fact less. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but please don't state it as fact. A comment like "this just proves Americans don't know how to how to ride motorcycles" or alluding to the fact that Americans forget what side of the road to ride on is just ridiculous. That's paramount to saying the drowning victims forgot how to swim.

I just visited some of the info put out by the British Embassy. I am not Brit bashing but trying to show some perspective and that accidents are accidents and not because of the country one hails from.

"According to the FCO, traffic laws, road and vehicle conditions and,
particularly, local driving habits can make driving overseas very
different from conditions in the home country. For example, Thailand,
permanent home to 50,000 British expats and destination for 870,00
tourists annually, had a reported 68,582 incidents causing 9,205 deaths
in 2011 as against 1,901 fatalities in the UK."

They go on to say that the most dangerous countries for Brits are Australia, Thailand and Spain! Now I assume from some of the posts that most believe Brits know how to ride motorcycles, and they are used to driving on the left side of the road and know how to use roundabouts. Certainly there are no facts available that more accidents happen in home countries and that driving in Thailand is more dangerous than the U.S.

Thailand is a dangerous place to drive. Fact. Motorcycles are inherently risky. Fact. Just because the U.S. issues a report showing numbers of its citizens killed does not mean the contributing cause of their death is BECAUSE they were Americans.

**I didn't post the full article or the link because I was not sure if it was allowed as it appears on another blog. If someone wants the link PM me.