Thai-American killed in Jomtien road accident

[SteveB2]

I just looked at the news video and I see a helmet on him... Maybe I got it wrong... What do you guys think?

I visited the large police pound today at Sukhumvit 50/1 to inspect the 2 wrecked vehicles - The cashed bike was not a pretty sight.

The force of impact was so high that it totally disintegrated the almost brand new red-plated Honda PCX150 front end, with the damage extending back towards the rear of the bike even breaking the seat off, and causing other rear structural damage to areas not involved in the collision.

The police official remarked "The helmet was stored under the seat at the time of the accident" - it had obviously fallen out during the impact. The bikes speedo was smashed up and somehow fixed solid at 80km/h.

I held the crash helmet in my hands and looked it over. It was un-marked and appeared in un-used - almost brand new condition.

As I walked out to trace the insurance company and bikes real owner from the now discovered registration number, finance company and photo details, The police officer took me around several bikes in even worse condition, pointing out that all the riders had survived because they were wearing crash helmets.

Exact time of accident was 11:54:54pm from local security video cameras not 2am as stated in the 'Pattaya One' video.

I took my son with me today on my own bike(we don't have a car anymore...) while we were processing all the paperwork.. we both wore crash helmets.

[lovetotravel]

Since the mods deleted my first post, let me try it another way. In my experience, I find those who are inclined to make comments that are detrimental towards bikes, in general, have never ridden anything bigger than a 110cc to the market and back. Driving a bike is like driving a car. Basically it boils down to road awareness and common sense. Yes, there is an abundance of stupid bike riders, just as there are an abundance of stupid drivers of cars. To blatantly state that motorbikes/motorcycles are the most dangerous weapon in Thailand, shows a disrespect towards bikes that is unwarranted. It's not the fault of a bike that causes an accident, but the rider DRIVING STUPIDLY in most cases, as is obvious in this particular case.

I've been riding bikes since I was 8. I'm now 66, and STILL prefer a bike bike over a car whenever possible. In the 6 years I've been driving in Thailand, I've taken 250's and bigger all over the north and north east of Thailand and had a blast doing it. The only accident I've had is having to put my 2 month old CBR 250 into the ditch when some jerk in a long bed truck suddenly realized he was about to miss his left turn, slammed on his brakes and turned sharply, leaving me the option of slamming into the truck, or putting the bike into the ditch. I chose the ditch.

I agree that Thailand is awash with idiotic, untrained bike drivers, but again, don't blame the bike, blame the rider.

I started riding bikes when I was 8. Honda 50, paid for with money I made from cutting grass. Raced motocross for a long time. In all these years, I've lost many friends due to bike accidents. It has nothing to do with how good you are, and everything to do with how lousy the driver is who hit you.

In a car, you've got a few tons of metal around you. On a bike, good luck.

[Basil B]

Hi Steve, hope he was insured.

As for the Speedo fixed at 80KPH, unless he was not looking where he was going or blind he must have reacted before hitting your pick up, so must have been going faster.

One of the first things the AAIB go for when investigating an air crash is the instruments particularly with small aircraft that do not have black boxes, a crash into terrain will cause most the mechanical instruments will freeze due to the force, they even piece together the instrument glass to look for paint off the indicator needles.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Basil B

[davethailand]

Not going to comment on some of the stuff i've read but end of the day whether it was his fault or not a 21 son has sadly passed away.

RIP

(And I actually had known him for a few years)

[SteveB2]

Not going to comment on some of the stuff i've read but end of the day whether it was his fault or not a 21 son has sadly passed away.

RIP

(And I actually had known him for a few years)

Precisely - I have 5 children with ages that straddle David's.

Anyone who posts here should have due respect for this young man, his family and friends, in full knowledge of the sadness that some of the curt, off the cuff remarks you make here may cause.

In my mind - there, but for the grace of god, go so many of us who have lived in Thailand for many years, ride bikes, and had many close shaves on the roads - I know I have had many during my 18 years working here on L.O.S.

A trashed car or motorbike can be fixed. A smashed body can't.

To be honest, I not too concerned about my truck. However, I am saddened about the grief David's family will be going through right now.

///

BTW

For those who don't know, in Thailand when vehicles are involved in a bad accident such as this, it is common that all vehicles are impounded and are not released until those involved come to an agreement for the payment of damages caused.

Accordingly, police vehicle pounds are often jammed packed full of vehicles that have been there for many years. Pattaya police have such a problem with jam packed vehicle pounds that motorbikes are often auctioned off after a year if no one claims them.

In this instance - the bikes finance company have informed me that it was uninsured for 3rd party risks apart from the all but useless government insurance scheme plus a straight forward 'theft' risk. The rider was not the owner.

Accordingly, as per the police system for vehicle crashes, if I understand the explanation given to me today, it falls on the whoever is deemed responsible for causing the crash (or the motorbikes insurance company, or motorbikes owner) to pay for any damages, or some compromise that is agreeable to both parties officiated at in a meeting held normally at the local police station - whereupon with a satisfactory outcome, the vehicles are then released. The insurance companies will be involved in this process, but one should not rely entirely on whatever 3rd party insurance you may have to cover 3rd party damages. 3rd parties can reject the insurance company's payment and sue for substantial additional monies if they see fit.

The process is not straight forward at all - and can very often drag on for years…

[Jayman]

I've known him for several years as well and guarantee you he will be sadly missed. I won't go into speculation as to how this occurred. I am only saddened with the outcome of losing a friend. I only hope that others take warning of this event and remember to use precaution whenever possible. Life is so precious and can be extinguished in but a mere moment.

[Jayman]

In this instance - the bikes finance company have informed me that it was uninsured for 3rd party risks apart from the all but useless government insurance scheme plus a straight forward 'theft' risk. The rider was not the owner.

Accordingly, as per the police system for vehicle crashes, if I understand the explanation given to me today, it falls on the whoever is deemed responsible for causing the crash (or the motorbikes insurance company, or motorbikes owner) to pay for any damages, or some compromise that is agreeable to both parties officiated at in a meeting held normally at the local police station - whereupon with a satisfactory outcome, the vehicles are then released. The insurance companies will be involved in this process, but one should not rely entirely on whatever 3rd party insurance you may have to cover 3rd party damages. 3rd parties can reject the insurance company's payment and sue for substantial additional monies if they see fit.

I'm rather surprised that a brand new and financed vehicle would be allowed to go without full insurance. I know that when we bought our PJS with financing they require full insurance until the vehicle financing is paid off. When you finance a vehicle the owner of the vehicle is the finance company until you pay it off so they want to make sure that in a situation like this they are not left with a totaled vehicle that insurance will not pay to fix.

That said, I'd also be surprised that your insurance would not pay for your damages as long as you held a good policy on your truck. At the end of the day the loss of life is horrific. It's also too bad that other innocent parties are being effected by this. I hope you get it sorted.

[soalbundy]

Not going to comment on some of the stuff i've read but end of the day whether it was his fault or not a 21 son has sadly passed away.

RIP

(And I actually had known him for a few years)

Precisely - I have 5 children with ages that straddle David's.

Anyone who posts here should have due respect for this young man, his family and friends, in full knowledge of the sadness that some of the curt, off the cuff remarks you make here may cause.

In my mind - there, but for the grace of god, go so many of us who have lived in Thailand for many years, ride bikes, and had many close shaves on the roads - I know I have had many during my 18 years working here on L.O.S.

A trashed car or motorbike can be fixed. A smashed body can't.

To be honest, I not too concerned about my truck. However, I am saddened about the grief David's family will be going through right now.

///

BTW

For those who don't know, in Thailand when vehicles are involved in a bad accident such as this, it is common that all vehicles are impounded and are not released until those involved come to an agreement for the payment of damages caused.

Accordingly, police vehicle pounds are often jammed packed full of vehicles that have been there for many years. Pattaya police have such a problem with jam packed vehicle pounds that motorbikes are often auctioned off after a year if no one claims them.

In this instance - the bikes finance company have informed me that it was uninsured for 3rd party risks apart from the all but useless government insurance scheme plus a straight forward 'theft' risk. The rider was not the owner.

Accordingly, as per the police system for vehicle crashes, if I understand the explanation given to me today, it falls on the whoever is deemed responsible for causing the crash (or the motorbikes insurance company, or motorbikes owner) to pay for any damages, or some compromise that is agreeable to both parties officiated at in a meeting held normally at the local police station - whereupon with a satisfactory outcome, the vehicles are then released. The insurance companies will be involved in this process, but one should not rely entirely on whatever 3rd party insurance you may have to cover 3rd party damages. 3rd parties can reject the insurance company's payment and sue for substantial additional monies if they see fit.

The process is not straight forward at all - and can very often drag on for years…

I have had experience of this. The damaged caused to my car reached the limit of the mans insurance who caused the accident so the repair station started using parts from other crashed cars, doors, windscreen,etc. I wasn't satisfied with this and went to a lawyer who told me i could sue the man to make up the extra money for a full scale all parts new repair but considering his and the courts costs plus the time involved it wouldn't be worth it. Having laws and getting justice are two separate things.

[alistair2014]

I can confirm the accident happened just before midnight as I was on the opposite side of the road. I didn't see the accident but heard the bang. I went over to help him and, contrary to the reports that he was killed instantly he was still breathing. Unfortunately, I could do nothing for him. He had blood oozing from his head and mouth and half his face had been ripped open. He started convulsing then died. He wasn't wearing a helmet. I would think he was drunk or drugged up. Others who arrived at the scene just took loads of pictures on their phones as he was dying, photographing or filming his final moments before death is probably the thing that sickened me more than anything. My friends tell me this will be the first of many bike accidents I will seen in Pattaya and, ironically, I was also riding a Honda PCX 150 and I can tell you I have thought long and hard about riding it again but I still am... For the moment.

DANCING DRIVER

[alistair2014]

Sorry, I didn't read some previous posts where one was a good friend of his. I apologise for the graphic nature of my post and I hope it is not seen as offensive or insensitive. Even though I did not know him I felt very sorry for his friends and relatives of this young man and the sad waste of a young life.

DANCING DRIVER

[SteveB2]

The police file on this accident was closed today following signatures of local residents who witnessed the incident together with the earlier receipt of a photographic/Video dossier documenting the impact. My truck has now been released to me.

By some strange quirk of fate, the primary witness for the accident that resulted in David's death had his own truck trashed last night when a sleeping driver of another pickup truck drifted over from the other side of Teprasit Road, and smashed into his own vehicle at high speed. Both trucks involved in the accident ended up 50ft from the point of impact in exactly the same place as the previous incident that is the subject of this thread. The truck that caused the accident was up ended onto its side (see attached image)

The noise from this 2nd crash (at 5am) woke my whole family up, and we rushed to the bedroom balcony to look outside and see what was going on.

Thankfully in this latest crash, nobody was killed. Teprasit Road was covered with a layer of prawns which was the cargo of the sleepy driver truck. Another Sea Food truck arrived quickly to scrape all the prawns off the road into new ice boxes for transport to the local Jomtien markets. My wife mentioned that we shouldn't eat prawns for a week or so...

OK - so now my truck is in for repair. The initial repair estimate of THB15K has grown into TH25K.

As mentioned in my earlier post, it is common for many Thai motorbikes on finance purchase deals to have no third party accident insurance to cover the repairs of my truck(just the very small payout government compulsory policy).

Further, due to the relatively small repair costs to my truck, a civil action to recover the funds is likely not worthwhile. It thus looks very much like I will need to pay for the repairs myself. Nevermind - things could have been worse.

[SteveB2]

I can confirm the accident happened just before midnight as I was on the opposite side of the road. I didn't see the accident but heard the bang. I went over to help him and, contrary to the reports that he was killed instantly he was still breathing. Unfortunately, I could do nothing for him. He had blood oozing from his head and mouth and half his face had been ripped open. He started convulsing then died. He wasn't wearing a helmet. I would think he was drunk or drugged up. Others who arrived at the scene just took loads of pictures on their phones as he was dying, photographing or filming his final moments before death is probably the thing that sickened me more than anything. My friends tell me this will be the first of many bike accidents I will seen in Pattaya and, ironically, I was also riding a Honda PCX 150 and I can tell you I have thought long and hard about riding it again but I still am... For the moment.

DANCING DRIVER

My own family including 2 small children see these types of accidents nearly every week on Teprasit Road.

Sadly, through experience of seeing so many other vehicle accidents here in Thailand, you will soon come to recognize that what you described was agonal breathing, Here in Thailand with only basic First Aid available, the chances of a positive outcome for a patient exhibiting these symptoms are not good at all. In the West, things may have been different, as some case studies attest.

So take care Alistair and all my motorbike riding friends out there - buy a good quality full face crash helmet and wear it every time.

[Banzai99]

I just looked at the news video and I see a helmet on him... Maybe I got it wrong... What do you guys think?

That Monotone sounds like Howard Miller.

[Banzai99]

I can confirm the accident happened just before midnight as I was on the opposite side of the road. I didn't see the accident but heard the bang. I went over to help him and, contrary to the reports that he was killed instantly he was still breathing. Unfortunately, I could do nothing for him. He had blood oozing from his head and mouth and half his face had been ripped open. He started convulsing then died. He wasn't wearing a helmet. I would think he was drunk or drugged up. Others who arrived at the scene just took loads of pictures on their phones as he was dying, photographing or filming his final moments before death is probably the thing that sickened me more than anything. My friends tell me this will be the first of many bike accidents I will seen in Pattaya and, ironically, I was also riding a Honda PCX 150 and I can tell you I have thought long and hard about riding it again but I still am... For the moment.

DANCING DRIVER

My own family including 2 small children see these types of accidents nearly every week on Teprasit Road.

Sadly, through experience of seeing so many other vehicle accidents here in Thailand, you will soon come to recognize that what you described was agonal breathing, Here in Thailand with only basic First Aid available, the chances of a positive outcome for a patient exhibiting these symptoms are not good at all. In the West, things may have been different, as some case studies attest.

So take care Alistair and all my motorbike riding friends out there - buy a good quality full face crash helmet and wear it every time.

And I see Farangs everyday going on the same road , driving much too fast , Farangs here on ThaiVisa seem so appalled by drink drivers, yet I don't know any Farangs that dont drink and drive on a regular basis, it happens everyday, why are you so surprised ?

Most of my friends in Pattaya are English, Swedish, Danish or German.

You would think Farangs would know better, but they don't, believe me.

Edited May 16, 2014 by Banzai99

[alistair2014]

The police file on this accident was closed today following signatures of local residents who witnessed the incident together with the earlier receipt of a photographic/Video dossier documenting the impact. My truck has now been released to me.

By some strange quirk of fate, the primary witness for the accident that resulted in David's death had his own truck trashed last night when a sleeping driver of another pickup truck drifted over from the other side of Teprasit Road, and smashed into his own vehicle at high speed. Both trucks involved in the accident ended up 50ft from the point of impact in exactly the same place as the previous incident that is the subject of this thread. The truck that caused the accident was up ended onto its side (see attached image)

The noise from this 2nd crash (at 5am) woke my whole family up, and we rushed to the bedroom balcony to look outside and see what was going on.

Thankfully in this latest crash, nobody was killed. Teprasit Road was covered with a layer of prawns which was the cargo of the sleepy driver truck. Another Sea Food truck arrived quickly to scrape all the prawns off the road into new ice boxes for transport to the local Jomtien markets. My wife mentioned that we shouldn't eat prawns for a week or so...

OK - so now my truck is in for repair. The initial repair estimate of THB15K has grown into TH25K.

As mentioned in my earlier post, it is common for many Thai motorbikes on finance purchase deals to have no third party accident insurance to cover the repairs of my truck(just the very small payout government compulsory policy).

Further, due to the relatively small repair costs to my truck, a civil action to recover the funds is likely not worthwhile. It thus looks very much like I will need to pay for the repairs myself. Nevermind - things could have been worse.

I just saw the poor chap on the ground, never even saw your truck so maybe the bang I heard was your truck going into house. I assumed he just lost control and fell over and could not understand why it caused such extreme injuries. What a witness I would have been!!!

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