Ten Killed In Korat Road Accident

[george]

Ten killed in road accident

PAKCHONG: -- Ten passengers were killed and several more injured when their Bangkok-bound van crashed into a power pole early Sunday morning.

Pol Maj Wisit Prompisat of Pakchong district police station said the accident happened at 2:30 am on the Mittraparp Road in Pakchong district.

The van was transporting 17 passengers from Yasothon to Bangkok. It left Yasothon at 6 pm on Saturday.

Wisit said seven passengers and the van driver died at the scene and two more died at hospitals. The rest of the passengers were severely injured.

One of them, Sakchai Yusuk, 32, said all passengers were asleep when the accident occurred.

Police said the driver might fall asleep causing the speeding van to lose control and crash into the power pole on the side of the road.

--The Nation 2006-06-18

[VanZam]

That's horrible, I hate to think how they managed to fit 17 people into a van in the first place.

[ratcatcher]

That's horrible, I hate to think how they managed to fit 17 people into a van in the first place.

Tragic? Yes. Normal? Yes.

They fit 17 in a van the same way they get 4 or 5 on a motocy or 7 or 8 in a tuk tuk. They just jam into a solid mass of uncomfortable but tolerant humans. I have no idea what the capacity of a large Bangkok bus happens to be but I have counted 100 people on one trip on a #547 in town. Jammed would be the word. No chance of falling over in the bus.

[Netfan]

Ten killed in road accident

Police said the driver might fall asleep causing the speeding van to lose control and crash into the power pole on the side of the road.

Yep, that just might do it.

Another avoidable tradgedy. The thing that gets me is the drivers have no sense of "hey, i've got the lives of 17 people entrusted to me. I'm tired. Maybe I better pull over".

I put this experience on another thread, but i caught the driver i was on from hua hin- bangkok nodding off. When i woke him up he just smiled and shrugged. Unfortunately it ain't gonna change anytime soon.

[kikstar06]

I HOPE YOU ARE ALL ASHAMED: Im sure none of you remember the 15 year old scottish girl, Alexandra Stark, killed in a road accident alomst a year ago in july. You will not remember as im sure you have disgarded the thought of her the way you all disgarded her life when you commented on the news paper article about her posted on the forum. I was one of Alex's best friends,she meant so much to me, I cried for hours after reading some of the things people were so offhanded and inconsiderate about sayin. However, by the time I was given the link to this forum, the topic had been closed and I could not post the things I wanted to say, therefore I am leaving my comments here as I am not going to let Alex's memory be tarnished in the way it was. Alex was one of the most amazing people I had ever met, and will ever meet ,in my life. She was a top student at our school, headed towards becoming a doctor or Psychologist. Alex was such a dynamic person, who touched everyone she knew and made a lasting impression on them. However, her life and memory was mocked by the comments which were posted about her, we were disgusted. For example " In this case some poor judgement on the part of the parents with disasterous consequences ", " Don't drink and drive, take a joint and fly!" " well, what was this ! Some little boob comes off her bike. I mean sorry and all that, but how many helmetless doe-eyed Thai teenies do likewise and don't qualify for a mention here" ENOUGH said. What was going throught peoples minds when you are writing these things!Do you not feel sympathy for the family, would it not have been more appropriate to leave your thoughts of condolences rather than drag Alex's memory through the muck for her family and friends do read!I miss Alex every day, I wont forget the times we had together, I wont forget her last words to me two days before she was killed, I wont forget the last time I stayed at her house, the last time I ever seen her. The problem is, all of you who absentmindedly posted your unexplored and inaccurate accounts of what you think Alex was like, did not appear to stop and think of the concequences of your words. So what I also wont forget is this forum, or the things said about Alex and her family. Those harsh words cut everyone I know who read this. Did you all really think that it was alright to say these things?!?! Finally, I will say that when I read this forum I lost a lot of faith in this world. To think tht I could be walking side by side with someone who may think of Alex as a "little boob", makes me sick. I know that tragedies like this happen all over the world every day, and with every tragedy comes a greiving family. You do not have to be particuarlly intelligent to realise these facts, but yet the compulsion to say the most disrespectful things was still in you. I pray that nothing like this ever happens to any of you, because if it did you would realise the seriousness of all your flippant and hurtfull words. Next time think before you speak.

Edited June 18, 2006 by kikstar06

[ratcatcher]

I HOPE YOU ARE ALL ASHAMED: Im sure none of you remember the 15 year old scottish girl, Alexandra Stark, killed in a road accident alomst a year ago in july. You will not remember as im sure you have disgarded the thought of her the way you all disgarded her life when you commented on the news paper article about her posted on the forum. I was one of Alex's best friends,she meant so much to me, I cried for hours after reading some of the things people were so offhanded and inconsiderate about sayin. However, by the time I was given the link to this forum, the topic had been closed and I could not post the things I wanted to say, therefore I am leaving my comments here as I am not going to let Alex's memory be tarnished in the way it was. Alex was one of the most amazing people I had ever met, and will ever meet ,in my life. She was a top student at our school, headed towards becoming a doctor or Psychologist. Alex was such a dynamic person, who touched everyone she knew and made a lasting impression on them. However, her life and memory was mocked by the comments which were posted about her, we were disgusted. For example " In this case some poor judgement on the part of the parents with disasterous consequences ", " Don't drink and drive, take a joint and fly!" " well, what was this ! Some little boob comes off her bike. I mean sorry and all that, but how many helmetless doe-eyed Thai teenies do likewise and don't qualify for a mention here" ENOUGH said. What was going throught peoples minds when you are writing these things!Do you not feel sympathy for the family, would it not have been more appropriate to leave your thoughts of condolences rather than drag Alex's memory through the muck for her family and friends do read!I miss Alex every day, I wont forget the times we had together, I wont forget her last words to me two days before she was killed, I wont forget the last time I stayed at her house, the last time I ever seen her. The problem is, all of you who absentmindedly posted your unexplored and inaccurate accounts of what you think Alex was like, did not appear to stop and think of the concequences of your words. So what I also wont forget is this forum, or the things said about Alex and her family. Those harsh words cut everyone I know who read this. Did you all really think that it was alright to say these things?!?! Finally, I will say that when I read this forum I lost a lot of faith in this world. To think tht I could be walking side by side with someone who may think of Alex as a "little boob", makes me sick. I know that tragedies like this happen all over the world every day, and with every tragedy comes a greiving family. You do not have to be particuarlly intelligent to realise these facts, but yet the compulsion to say the most disrespectful things was still in you. I pray that nothing like this ever happens to any of you, because if it did you would realise the seriousness of all your flippant and hurtfull words. Next time think before you speak.

Thank you for the sermon kikstar. Much appreciated, however I do not need to be lectured about the value of human life, be it Thai or otherwise. All too often, preventable accidents happen in this country and probably in many other countries, because someone did not think about the consequences of their actions.

Your impression that members of this forum are callous and uncaring is a bold statement indeed. What you seem to overlook is the fact that everyday here in Thailand we see and are subjected to random acts of stupidity by Thai people and I must admit, mostly males. Whether they are racing along a narrow soi at 50 miles an hour with no lights and no helmet with a girl perched on the back or whether they are driving a city bus (usually green) in a style of Kimi Raikkonen they still exercise little or no caution. Probably in the belief that Buddha will take care of them.

The police do little to deter these acts and one can regularly see open trucks with 20 or 30 people packed in the back like watermelons. Life here is obviously regarded as cheap.

The cliche "The driver fled the scene" is regarded almost as a joke now.

I am sure most members on this board have had experiences with Thai drivers acting stupidly.

And I am sure most members also feel sympathy with the innocent victims of these tragic accidents as well as for the families of the drivers involved.

[Netfan]

I HOPE YOU ARE ALL ASHAMED:

I think we get your point. You've posted the same thing on 3 other threads (so far).

THIS thread is about the senseless loss of 10 lives. I'd say you are being a bit insensitive to those who lost their lives in this accident.

[kikstar06]

I HOPE YOU ARE ALL ASHAMED:

I think we get your point. You've posted the same thing on 3 other threads (so far).

THIS thread is about the senseless loss of 10 lives. I'd say you are being a bit insensitive to those who lost their lives in this accident.

I think you have failed to see exactly what I was saying, my comments where directed only at those senseless enough to write the hurtfull things I quoted. I also never made any reference to the race of anyone involed in the accident or in this forum, so Im sorry to say your very much mistaken there. I had to say how I felt, I was not prepared to allow thoughtless people say things like that and walk away with no repercussions. I also hope that if any of those people who called Alex things such as "a little boob", keep in mind Im not directing this at anyone except for those who said disrespectful things, come across this article about this other terrible accident, they have more remorse than they did for Alex. Words of condolences are all that really needed to be said.

[kikstar06]

Oh and also ratcatcher, I did not personally mention you or in any way direct any of my statement at you. I posted my reply on a number of random threads where I hoped those who said things may see what I had to say. At no point did I point the finger towards anyone who had, like yourself, done nothing wrong.

Edited June 18, 2006 by kikstar06

[Postie]

I wonder where it happened exactly? Crashed vehicles under investigation are left by the district government offices. Rolled buses and the like. The accident mentioned, although tragic, is barely

newsworthy. I would estimate nearly all fatalities are due to drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

The ten foot deep drainage ditches at the side and in the middle of the motorway leave no chance!

Getting acrss Pakchong high street is interesting...With the Highway blasting down the middle.

Sorry to hear about the "special friend" who isn't with us. Just maybe she ended her days the happiest she had ever been!

[taxexile]

" In this case some poor judgement on the part of the parents with disasterous consequences ", " Don't drink and drive, take a joint and fly!" " well, what was this ! Some little boob comes off her bike. I mean sorry and all that, but how many helmetless doe-eyed Thai teenies do likewise and don't qualify for a mention here"

kikstar06

i remember the story about your friend , and i also remember some of the appalling and hurtful comments posted on that thread. may alex r.i.p.

[Scott]

This is a truely regretable accident and my deepest sympathies for the family and friends of the victims. The driver MAY have fallen asleep, there may have been a mechanical malfunction. I hope that we all remember that the driver, if he isn't at fault, also has a family who will have to live with the shame of his actions.

[svenivan]

[What you seem to overlook is the fact that everyday here in Thailand we see and are subjected to random acts of stupidity by Thai people and I must admit, mostly males. Whether they are racing along a narrow soi at 50 miles an hour with no lights and no helmet with a girl perched on the back or whether they are driving a city bus (usually green) in a style of Kimi Raikkonen they still exercise little or no caution. Probably in the belief that Buddha will take care of them.

Well, I don't want to say that it is only about Thai people. There are more falangs "racing with no helmet with a girl perched on the back" in percentage than Thai people. Especially in Phuket and Pattaya where they can rent big bikes.

So it is not only Thai people doing stupid things in traffic here in Thailand.

My condolences to the families and frinds in this latest accident in Korat as well as to Alex family and friends.

[Khutan]

Any loss of life by accident is very sad and my sympathy goes to all concerned.

What makes it more sad is these people would be from poor families, and I would guess a collection of the "Bangkok Workers" from various villages around the Tumbon. I would also guess the people killed would be those going to Bangkok the most cost-effective way possible to do several months of hard work to support their families.

The tragedy is made worse by the fact these people's families may now have no-one to support them. Their children, already suffering from greif may not have enough food to eat or be able to pay for school books. Maybe other children will be made to cut short their learning to go to work and replace the lost bread-winner.

The tragedy echos through those small rural communities for a long time.

Generaly the operators of this service do a door-to-door deal and the price ranges from 300 B upwards. Their only real competition are the Terminal busses and the Local busses. As the price of diesel keeps rising, the extra passengers make the journey worthwhile for the driver. I have travelled this way twice and I would never do it again, nor will I let my family do it. Its not the fact it is an uncomfortable way to travel, but it just isn't safe.

Maybe it comes to a question of "Affordable safety" that riding inside a vehicle with seat-belts and other safety devices reduces the risk of death or going to hospital in the event of an accident. My experience was a shocker. This guy had a 1 year old Pickup with the modifications to take about 18 passengers. The trip was far from comfortable. The first drop-off was the construction site at the back on Don Muang. I thought the driver made a mistake when he drove into the kerb and the vehicle stopped a bit faster than exepected. After about 20 minutes of standing around in the mosquito infested evening, it turned out the pickup had run out of brake fluid. I also understand that the friver knew that he was running low on the stuff, but failed to check it for that journey.

I could not believe the blatant disregard the man had for his passengers lives.

[veteran]

TIT

[xxViKKi06xx]

Veteran Who Is It U Are Calling A Tit ?

Edited June 21, 2006 by xxViKKi06xx

[Chang_paarp]

Veteran Who Is It U Are Calling A Tit ?

When you have spent a little more time on this forum you understand this is an acronym for This Is Thailand.

[penzman]

I could not believe the blatant disregard the man had for his passengers lives.

It's all about priorities. For most drivers, the van has to get there first and back, passengers come second.