Phuket traffic cop run down by speeding motorcyclist

[webfact]

Phuket traffic cop run down by speeding motorcyclist
Phuket Gazette


Sen Sgt Maj Somsak Chuenbangbah of the Phuket City Traffic Police suffered injuries to his head and right arm in the collision. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A Phuket City Police traffic officer was run down by a speeding motorcyclist late yesterday afternoon while trying to clear a rush-hour traffic jam near Vachira Phuket Hospital on Yaowarat Road.

Sen Sgt Maj Somsak Chuenbangbah was en route to Saphan Hin, where he was to make sure no trouble erupted at the “birthday funeral” being held there by V-Phuket anti-government protesters to mark the 64th birthday of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (story here).

Sgt Somsak left Phuket City Police headquarters on Chumphon Road (map here) at about 5:30pm, but got no further than the end of the street, at the junction with Yaowarat Road, where he found himself gridlocked in a Friday afternoon traffic jam.

“I wasn’t actually on duty at the time. I was assigned to go to the V-Phuket protest at Saphan Hin… I wanted to help the public by doing my bit to try to improve the flow of traffic,” Sgt Somsak later told the Phuket Gazette.

“I was standing in the middle of the road directing traffic when a motorbike drove toward me at high speed – and actually crashed into me,” he said.

Maj Sakol Krainara of Phuket City Police soon received a call for assistance, as did staff at Vachira Hospital, located only about 350 meters up the road, who quickly dispatched an ambulance.

“We arrived to find Sgt Somsak lying on road, clearly in pain. His right arm and head were injured, and he was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital,” said Maj Sakol.

Nearby, officers found Jakkrapong Suwan, 25, the driver of the motorbike.

“Luckily, he was not injured,” Maj Sakol said.

“Although the young man did not try to run away, and indeed offered his sincere apologies to the policeman he knocked down, Mr Jakkrapong was charged with reckless driving,” Maj Sakol added.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-traffic-cop-run-down-by-speeding-motorcyclist-21791.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-27

[JetsetBkk]

Chaotic junction. Vehicles from the north, wanting to get to Mae Luan road and Central, try to go right there. Vehicles coming out from Chumpon road want to turn right to Phuket town there. Vehicles going north on Yaowarat don't want to stop... result: chaos.

Might as well put another set of traffic lights.

[retell]

hope he will recover soon

and that they are not too tough on the motorbike driver ,after all he did not flee the scene what is rare in Thailand

[Guest]

I was thinking of starting yet another rant of moronic drivers and riders in Phuket, this will do.

People seems to drive faster than before. Overtaking motorbikes and cars, even if there is oncoming traffic.

Now this behavior has spread to normally slower roads in Paklok. Some cars driving 140 km/h on 2 lane road.

Speed cameras could be one solution to slow down the drivers.

[retell]

I was thinking of starting yet another rant of moronic drivers and riders in Phuket, this will do.

People seems to drive faster than before. Overtaking motorbikes and cars, even if there is oncoming traffic.

Now this behavior has spread to normally slower roads in Paklok. Some cars driving 140 km/h on 2 lane road.

Speed cameras could be one solution to slow down the drivers.

no education lots of education can do that and speed cameras for the ones that really do not understand (or did not watch the infomercials if those are actually there in Thailand)

[Andre0720]

That will probably not even be enough to get motorists to slow down...

[klauskunkel]

I was thinking of starting yet another rant of moronic drivers and riders in Phuket, this will do.

People seems to drive faster than before. Overtaking motorbikes and cars, even if there is oncoming traffic.

Now this behavior has spread to normally slower roads in Paklok. Some cars driving 140 km/h on 2 lane road.

Speed cameras could be one solution to slow down the drivers.

Maybe law enforcement could be another solution

[Pinot]

How about charging biker boy with fleeing the scene of an accident? Oh, I forgot that's okay. Heck, it was only a cop.

[Emdog]

welcome to our world

[jpeg]

How about charging biker boy with fleeing the scene of an accident? Oh, I forgot that's okay. Heck, it was only a cop.

It was only a short report. Try reading it again. He didn't 'flee the scene' ...

[atyclb]

Maybe it was a "cash extracting" stop and the biker found a way to curtail the cop from accepting bribes (assuming right handed) ?

[stevenl]

Maybe it was a "cash extracting" stop and the biker found a way to curtail the cop from accepting bribes (assuming right handed) ?

I know that happens in Bangkok and Pattaya, but not on Phuket.

[Bagwan]

I assume that if he had been on duty it would be a very serious affair.

[Benmart]

Glad the officer was not killed outright. I've directed traffic back home and had near misses even though it was daytime and I was wearing a bright, reflective vest. I guess it may have made me a better target. Best wishes Senior Sergeant Major for a speedy and complete recovery.

[hhiser]

"… I wanted to help the public by doing my bit to try to improve the flow of traffic,” Sgt Somsak later told the Phuket Gazette.

It might be different in Phuket, but traffic cops in Lampang usually cause more problems then they are worth. I hope he recovers well. He's a brave SOB, I would not direct traffic in Thailand for any amount of money.

[Soupdragon]

Will be interesting to see what the fine/penalty is because, be honest, who has been tempted to do this.

[Sayonarax]

How about charging biker boy with fleeing the scene of an accident? Oh, I forgot that's okay. Heck, it was only a cop.