6-year-old, aunt killed in Phuket motorbike crash

[Lite Beer]

6-year-old, aunt killed in Phuket motorbike crash
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: A 6-year-old girl and her 17-year-old aunt died in a motorbike accident after a pickup truck allegedly cut across multiple lanes of traffic in Pa Khlok yesterday.

Rescue workers and Thalang Police rushed to the scene of the crash on Pa Khlok-Muangmai Road near Baan Bangla Mosque at about 3:45pm.

“We found Rachada Pongpongsuwan, 17. Sunisa Nontri, her niece, had already been rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital by residents,” said Suporn Muangkhai of the Thalang Police.

“Also at the scene was a seriously injured foreigner, who, in an attempt to avoid the accident, had crashed into a utility pole.”

Both Nong Sunisa and Ms Rachada died at the hospital that night.

The foreigner, who police have yet to identify, is still in the hospital.

“He couldn't speak when we arrived at the scene and had no identifying documents with him. He looks to be about 40 years old and 170 centimeters tall with blond hair,” Lt Suporn said.

Eyewitness told police that the pickup truck driver cut across multiple traffic lanes to take a right toward the Heroines’ Monument.

“As the truck was crossing, Ms Rachada hit it head on,” said Lt Suporn.

“The truck driver ran away to his house, not far from the crash scene. A relative later brought him to the police station.”

The driver was charged with reckless driving causing death.

There were no helmets found at the scene, confirmed Lt Suporn.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/6-year-old-aunt-killed-in-Phuket-motorbike-crash-26721.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-02

[LivinginKata]

A really bad one - 6 year and 17 year old dead. Foreigner badly injured. all caused by "after a pickup truck allegedly cut across multiple lanes of traffic in Pa Khlok yesterday."

I hope they throw the book at him, but this is Thailand and we will never hear about the judicial result, if it even goes to court. Sigh Sigh

[terryp]

it will never go to Court a fee will be paid to the familys to cover the funeral costs and pay for the MC if still on monthly payment ...the tourist will get nothing unless he takes the guy to court (or a possible 1,500 baht to cover medical costs)

So many people just do not understand that the base law in Thailand is COMMON LAW thats why the police mediate and money pass's hands

Thailand is dangerous and life is of no value

[Bung]

How did the motorbike hit the pickup head on after it crossed multiple lanes? Was she riding on the wrong side of the road?

[LivinginKata]

How did the motorbike hit the pickup head on after it crossed multiple lanes? Was she riding on the wrong side of the road?

The implication is that the pickup was driving on the wrong side of the road and struck the motor bike and caused the other bike to take veering action. Best you read the report again.

[robertthebruce]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

[andreandre]

RIP to these two..what a waste of a couple of kids lives..

RECKLESS driving on[and off] the roads causes the majority of crashes..

[Bung]

How did the motorbike hit the pickup head on after it crossed multiple lanes? Was she riding on the wrong side of the road?

The implication is that the pickup was driving on the wrong side of the road and struck the motor bike and caused the other bike to take veering action. Best you read the report again.

I took it that the pickup crossed multiple lanes to make a right turn not crossing oncoming lanes as well to make a right turn.

[sirchai]

Please use your brain, before posting nonsense about this so tragic accident. Please see other, more developed countries like Germany.

There're ghost riders driving on the wrong direction on a "Autobahn". Some of them don't really have a speed limit.Almost every week.

RIP. and a speedy recovery for the foreigner.-

Edited March 2, 2014 by sirchai

[sirchai]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

Maybe time to get back to your country of origin just to find out how many accidents there occur.-

[edwinchester]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

Maybe time to get back to your country of origin just to find out how many accidents there occur.-

Uk has a similar population to Thailand. Latest figures released for the year 2013 show 1754 deaths on the roads there.

Last Songkran a Thai Interior minister revealed at a press conference a death toll on Thai roads of approx 26,000 per year.

[Shot]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

Maybe time to get back to your country of origin just to find out how many accidents there occur.-

You do know Thailand ranks number 3/per 100,000 in the world.......Right?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688565-thailand-ranks-the-worlds-third-in-highest-road-fatalities/

[Jim walker]

RIP to deceased and sincere condolences to all her family and friends Why do Thais show so little caring for their children a six year old should only be transported secured in an appropriate child seat certainly not clinging on to an adult on a motorbike even wearing an approved helmet this is not a safe environment for a child.

[pistachios]

RIP to deceased and sincere condolences to all her family and friends Why do Thais show so little caring for their children a six year old should only be transported secured in an appropriate child seat certainly not clinging on to an adult on a motorbike even wearing an approved helmet this is not a safe environment for a child.

Yeah, why don't they just buy a fortuner with a CE certified child seat like everybody else? So irresponsible.

[Jerry Cornelius]

RIP to deceased and sincere condolences to all her family and friends Why do Thais show so little caring for their children a six year old should only be transported secured in an appropriate child seat certainly not clinging on to an adult on a motorbike even wearing an approved helmet this is not a safe environment for a child.

Sadly, the ordinary folks of this country have few if any alternatives. They still need to get around to conduct their business and their choice is to take risks and eat, or starve.

I feel less compassion for the foreigner, who being obviously more intelligent and better educated, couldn't be assed to pay attention to his own safety.

Hopefully soon the ordinary folks of Thailand will be affluent and educated enough to utilise all the Health and Safety trappings of the Western world and consumuer prices will be at parity, if not more.

Enjoy your cheap beer.

Jerry

[andreandre]

RIP to deceased and sincere condolences to all her family and friends Why do Thais show so little caring for their children a six year old should only be transported secured in an appropriate child seat certainly not clinging on to an adult on a motorbike even wearing an approved helmet this is not a safe environment for a child.

Sadly, the ordinary folks of this country have few if any alternatives. They still need to get around to conduct their business and their choice is to take risks and eat, or starve.

I feel less compassion for the foreigner, who being obviously more intelligent and better educated, couldn't be assed to pay attention to his own safety.

Hopefully soon the ordinary folks of Thailand will be affluent and educated enough to utilise all the Health and Safety trappings of the Western world and consumuer prices will be at parity, if not more.

Enjoy your cheap beer.

Jerry

Sadly, the ordinary folks of this country have few if any alternatives. They still need to get around to conduct their business and their choice is to take risks and eat, or starve.

This is very true in majority of Thais,and also, more to the point, is the results of their Buddhist upbringing [whether we believe in their beliefs or not] is IMO the key to it all.

Thats the way it is..and all the "needed to be wrapped in cottonwool'' lifestyle thoughts from outsiders and all the opinions from the rest of the world regarding Thais choices in life are going to fall on deaf ears...

Their beliefs are theirs alone and totally up to them, no matter how you/we see it differently coming from different religious and mostly more affluent countries it really is not our business to try and change their POV that is deeply ingrained in their own culture.Its up to them 100%.

Sorry, but that's just the way it is..get over it..

[khrab]

R.I.P.

Some remarks:

1) Driver underaged. So no D/L.

2) No helmets worn.

3) They both died later in hospital so this is no road fatality......

[robertthebruce]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

Maybe time to get back to your country of origin just to find out how many accidents there occur.-

Uk has a similar population to Thailand. Latest figures released for the year 2013 show 1754 deaths on the roads there.

Last Songkran a Thai Interior minister revealed at a press conference a death toll on Thai roads of approx 26,000 per year.

Thank you ''Edwinchester'', its appreciated...

[Mudcrab]

RIP to deceased and sincere condolences to all her family and friends Why do Thais show so little caring for their children a six year old should only be transported secured in an appropriate child seat certainly not clinging on to an adult on a motorbike even wearing an approved helmet this is not a safe environment for a child.

Sadly, the ordinary folks of this country have few if any alternatives. They still need to get around to conduct their business and their choice is to take risks and eat, or starve.

I feel less compassion for the foreigner, who being obviously more intelligent and better educated, couldn't be assed to pay attention to his own safety.

Hopefully soon the ordinary folks of Thailand will be affluent and educated enough to utilise all the Health and Safety trappings of the Western world and consumuer prices will be at parity, if not more.

Enjoy your cheap beer.

Jerry

Obviously? How do you come to this conclusion? He could have been blind rotten drunk for all you know. Why is it implied he, or the poor unfortunate deceased did anything wrong? Try doing 60 or 80kph and have a truck turn in front of you without warning.

[peecee]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

Maybe time to get back to your country of origin just to find out how many accidents there occur.-

I think you'll find Thailand very high on the list whilst Norway, Sweden & UK are at the lower end!

[Thaiready]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

Maybe time to get back to your country of origin just to find out how many accidents there occur.-

I feel the same way as the Gentlemen you where replying to.....and this is my Country. .....People here are so acustomed to this and they Don't bat a eye. There is not a day that goes by that I have to avold some idiot on a motorcycle, car, pickup, Transfer truck or Bus.

[huahinjoe]

RIP another day, another fatal accident to happen meanwhile the country is NOT coming closer at all to solve its issues which related to the

- mass transportation

- law enforcement

- drug & health

- education

- economic & political problems

These are the innocent and randomly killed people are the silent victims and their mourning families with lifetime grief in their heart suffer the most of this vicious cycle and i guess nobody at the authorities doing anything much to prevent... It's a sad indication of how the things are really screwed from the system inside for decades...

[MaxYakov]

So So Sad, but this happens frequently all over ''Thailand'' and no one seems to bat an eyelid.., There is no law or order on the Roads, and its every man for themselves..

Scares me constantly driving here, whether its my car or my scooter..., doubt if i will ever get used to it,

anyway,

R.I.P. such a waste of life

Maybe time to get back to your country of origin just to find out how many accidents there occur.-

You do know Thailand ranks number 3/per 100,000 in the world.......Right?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688565-thailand-ranks-the-worlds-third-in-highest-road-fatalities/

Yes and IMHO it' because motorbikes are used as Westerners use autos, often carrying four or more passengers but without the crash protection of an auto. Most can't afford autos and many would not even have a place to park them safely. Poor people have poor ways and end up paying the cost in other ways - road carnage and body counts.

[Lokie]

RIP to deceased and sincere condolences to all her family and friends Why do Thais show so little caring for their children a six year old should only be transported secured in an appropriate child seat certainly not clinging on to an adult on a motorbike even wearing an approved helmet this is not a safe environment for a child.

Sadly, the ordinary folks of this country have few if any alternatives. They still need to get around to conduct their business and their choice is to take risks and eat, or starve.

I feel less compassion for the foreigner, who being obviously more intelligent and better educated, couldn't be assed to pay attention to his own safety.

Hopefully soon the ordinary folks of Thailand will be affluent and educated enough to utilise all the Health and Safety trappings of the Western world and consumuer prices will be at parity, if not more.

Enjoy your cheap beer.

Jerry

You talk <deleted>!

So anyone, sorry - any foreigner who gets injured riding a bike through no fault of their own through some maniac fookwit driver you have no compassion for, attention to safety?? So like every pedestrian who gets hit would be in the same boat then in your book, obviously 'Cheap' for walking, heaven forbid? Just hope you get compassion if your unlucky enough to find yourself caught 'Cheap' some day ehh?

RIP to the young girl and her aunt, I hope the foreign guy makes a speedy recovery and is ok

Edited March 2, 2014 by Lokie

[jacko45k]

It makes me so angry.

I see impatient drivers go onto the wrong side of the road to get to the green light in the distance all the time, and often making an overtaking attempt putting them in my lane coming directly at me..... I have been forced into the gutter a few times. Pick-up trucks seem to be a common vehicle for this ... it is often farang drivers too!

Edited March 2, 2014 by jacko45k

[MaxYakov]

RIP to deceased and sincere condolences to all her family and friends Why do Thais show so little caring for their children a six year old should only be transported secured in an appropriate child seat certainly not clinging on to an adult on a motorbike even wearing an approved helmet this is not a safe environment for a child.

Sadly, the ordinary folks of this country have few if any alternatives. They still need to get around to conduct their business and their choice is to take risks and eat, or starve.

I feel less compassion for the foreigner, who being obviously more intelligent and better educated, couldn't be assed to pay attention to his own safety.

Hopefully soon the ordinary folks of Thailand will be affluent and educated enough to utilise all the Health and Safety trappings of the Western world and consumuer prices will be at parity, if not more.

Enjoy your cheap beer.

Jerry

And how many of their motorbike trips are for frivolous reasons and conducted under the influence of alcohol or drugs (as this driver probably was - explaining why he fled the scene)? There are alternatives, such as more use of the bicycle for short trips, but in my estimation Thai people are generally too lazy for that. Their laziness (both physical and intellectual) also explains their relative low standard of living.

As to "conducting their business":

"In Thailand, the total cost of road crashes has been estimated at $US 3 billion"

Recent estimates of alcohol involvement in that country indicate at least 30% of

crashes are linked to alcohol, which means alcohol is a factor in costs to Thailand of

about $US 1 billion."

Ref: Why Is A Drinking and Driving Programme Necessary - White Paper/PDF

It's a worldwide problem, but it seems to me that driving under the influence is more tolerated and has less severe consequences in Thailand than in other countries. However, the consequences to the victims is the same in Thailand.

Edited March 2, 2014 by MaxYakov

[watso63]

Yet more sad and tragic loss of life in Thailand. I hated the nanny state in the UK and apart from the weather it's one of the main reasons I moved to Thailand so have to take the bad with the good. Dunno why someone feels the need to criticise the foreigner for becoming a victim of another persons bad and selfish driving, so get off your high horse because it can happen to anyone, even you Jerry Cornelius. By the way beer is not so cheap here and what has that got to do with anything Mr big chip on your shoulders?

[Bcgardener]

My neighbour is a neurosurgeon at a large government hospital and he dreads every new year and songwriter holiday. His descriptions of picking pieces of 100 baht helmets out of people's brains is truly horrific. Perhaps people like him giving talks in the schools may help to improve things.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Bcgardener]

Meant Songkran obviously

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[eezergood]

My neighbour is a neurosurgeon at a large government hospital and he dreads every new year and songwriter holiday. His descriptions of picking pieces of 100 baht helmets out of people's brains is truly horrific. Perhaps people like him giving talks in the schools may help to improve things.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

NOw that is something I would pay to support!