Teen sixth road death in Phuket 'Days of Danger' campaign

[webfact]

Teen sixth road death in Phuket 'Days of Danger' campaign
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A teenager became the sixth person to die during Phuket’s 10 Days of Danger when he crashed his new motorcycle in Thalang last night.

Thanawat Tohting, 19, was travelling at high speed northbound on Thepkrasattri Road when the traffic light at the intersection with the airport road changed to yellow, witnesses told police.

Mr Thanawat increased his speed to make it through the light, but the car in front of him braked to stop, said Capt Narong Muangdoung of the Thalang Police.

“Mr Thanawat had to brake suddenly, lost control of the bike and veered into the median. On impact, he flew off the motorbike and struck his head against the traffic light pole,” said Capt Narong.

Mr Thanawat was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but was still alive when Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers reached him just after 11pm.

They administered first aid and transported him to Thalang Hospital, where staff tried for an hour to stabilize him before sending him to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.

Police are waiting for test results to see if alcohol was involved in the accident.

Although Mr Thanawat is the sixth victim in Governor Maitri Inthusut’s 10 Days of Danger, which began on December 25, he is the fourth victim recorded by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), which is counting deaths only during the national 7 Days of Danger period, which began on December 27. (The DDPM has yet to include Mr Thanawat in their statistics.)

The road deaths reported so far in the 10 Days of Danger safety campaign are:

Dec 25 : None

Dec 26 : Pavel Khristich, 29, Ukrainian motorcyclist, Kathu (story here)

Dec 29: Sylvain Wacquez, 26, French motorcyclist, Rawai

Robert Marano, 21, Thai motorcyclist, Thung Thong

Panthida Jaruwat, 40, tour guide in bus, Patong Hill (story here)

Khanrat Kajornjit, 47, driver of car struck by bus, Patong Hill

Dec 30: Thanawat Tohting, 19, motorcyclist, Thalang

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Teen-sixth-road-death-in-Phuket-Days-of-Danger-campaign-23138.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-31

[MK1]

Very sad to see this kid die this way and based on observations yesterday there appears to be very little enforcement of the helmet safety wearing policy in particularly along Thepkrasattri road at this time. With due respect, this is perhaps because Thalang Police resources have currently been absorbed and focused on the protection of one certain undisclosed V.I.P for several weeks now.

The whole of Thepkrasattri Road has had Police positioned along it, most hours, at 200 meter intervals, but still multiple helmetless-motorbike riders just pass-on-by, under their noses, without being pulled over for non-compliance. What is the point of having laws if there not enforced? Respectfully ,V.I.P’S would perhaps do the Police and island community a favor by getting around the island via helicopter than preventing Police from doing their real job since their prolonged presence appears to be such a time consuming distraction putting other peoples lives indirectly at risk. R.I.P Khun Thanawat.

[Blindside]

Saw another guy come off this morning on Chao Fa West, also going a bit too fast - head on with a stationary car waiting to turn.

Lucky for him he was wearing a helmet. Never pleasant to see.

[LivinginKata]

Trouble is that the BIB never ever take any action on the open road. They only set up the road checks a couple of times a month to make up their fine quota and commission. It's just a complete joke, leading to much loss of life (not such a joke).

[Ulic]

When riding my scooter I am always fearful of the yellow lights. Here yellow means full gas

For Thais the lights are only a suggestion and when the turn red you still have the right of way

for 3-5 seconds if you flash your lights or toot your horn. Sad to hear of another young man

paying the price for a lapse in judgement.