Three French tourist injured after Phuket tour van flips
Eakkapop Thongtub


The three were lucky not to have suffered more severe injuries.

Phuket: -- Three French tourists were injured after the van they were travelling in crashed on the way to the airport (February 17).

At 1:15pm, Tahchatchai Investigator, Lt Col Watcharin Jiratikarnwiwat, received a call to investigate an accident where a mini-van had overturned on the central reservation of Baan Meang Mai – Airport Rd, about 350 metres from Thalang Technical College.

Upon arrival at the scene, police and rescue workers saw the wrecked Phuket registered Toyota mini-van belonging to the Persona Travel Company.

The van crashed on a curved part of the road and taking out a lamp post in the process.

The three injured French tourists have all been taken to Thalang Hospital. One had suffered a broken leg, one a broken arm and the other only minor injuries.

The victims were later named as Yassine Bouhou, 31, Frank Andre Alfred Leguelle, 33, and Sertac Akkurt, 26.

The van driver, Piboon Uthairangsi, 42, from Pattalung, said he picked up the three tourists from Patong and was on his way to drop them off at Phuket International Airport. He was not injured in the crash.

“I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst. The van flipped in the air and landed on the central reservation,” he said.

Police took the van and driver to Thachatchai station and the driver faces possible charges of reckless driving.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/three-french-tourist-injured-after-phuket-tour-van-flips-51056.php


-- Phuket News 2015-02-18

Yes. Very French sounding names.

It amazes me how the moronic drivers seem to escape injury a lot of the time.

By the state of that van they are lucky to be alive.

“I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst. The van flipped in the air and landed on the central reservation,” he said.

Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front. Perhaps if he had been driving at a more sedate speed he might have avoided the crash

Looking at the massive damage to the van, livinginkata is spot on. Any estimates to speed? 120kmph? more? Looks like some out take shot from new flick "Too Fast Too Delirious"

Yes. Very French sounding names.

Does it matter? Are you trying to start the same discussion again?

The name of the second guy sounds real French BTW.

Amazing how a mini-bus can just "flip into the air", alleged blow-out or not.

“I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst. The van flipped in the air and landed on the central reservation,” he said.

Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front. Perhaps if he had been driving at a more sedate speed he might have avoided the crash

Well spotted. All van drivers think they are on an F1 circuit with an F1 car when going around curves. I shudder to be inside of these guys when those vans are leaning heavily when going much too fast on curves.

“I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst. The van flipped in the air and landed on the central reservation,” he said.

Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front. Perhaps if he had been driving at a more sedate speed he might have avoided the crash

"Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front." - why do you say that?

Hard to tell in from the photo, but it looks like a normal wheel but the hubcap has come off upon impact.

"I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst" - tyres usually burst when they clip the kerb, at speed.

Trying to blame a mechanical fault, rather than driver error.

They are lucky to be alive.

Yes. Very French sounding names.

Does it matter? Are you trying to start the same discussion again?

The name of the second guy sounds real French BTW.

Forum is now safe knowing you're doing all the moral policing. Keep up the good fight.

It certainly is amazing that no one died in this accident. Tourist vans and their drivers need to be avoided at all cost, although a taxi might cost more, it has less chance of costing you your life.

Yes. Very French sounding names.

Does it matter? Are you trying to start the same discussion again?

The name of the second guy sounds real French BTW.

Forum is now safe knowing you're doing all the moral policing. Keep up the good fight.

Thank you, will do.

The rear wheel looks like a solid spoke rim and the front looks like the spare which is a little smaller and made to drive 45mph for safety not 120kmh.

“I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst. The van flipped in the air and landed on the central reservation,” he said.

Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front. Perhaps if he had been driving at a more sedate speed he might have avoided the crash

"Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front." - why do you say that?

Hard to tell in from the photo, but it looks like a normal wheel but the hubcap has come off upon impact.

"I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst" - tyres usually burst when they clip the kerb, at speed.

Trying to blame a mechanical fault, rather than driver error.

They are lucky to be alive.

Be interesting to hear the tourists view of the driver

The rear wheel looks like a solid spoke rim and the front looks like the spare which is a little smaller and made to drive 45mph for safety not 120kmh.

I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst. The van flipped in the air and landed on the central reservation, he said.

Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front. Perhaps if he had been driving at a more sedate speed he might have avoided the crash

"Looks like it was a spare tyre already on the right front." - why do you say that?

Hard to tell in from the photo, but it looks like a normal wheel but the hubcap has come off upon impact.

"I lost the control of the vehicle on the bend when my the right tyre burst" - tyres usually burst when they clip the kerb, at speed.

Trying to blame a mechanical fault, rather than driver error.

They are lucky to be alive.

Now that had another look, I think NKM has a good point about the decorative cover coming off in the crash. But the blown tyre excuse is just a ruse to cover the high speed loss of control.

Another unguided and coward missile whose behavior kills people.

Book him !!!!!!!!!!!

The 'kings of the road' strike again,he was most likely flooring it and weaving in and out of traffic,as the "kings' usually do.

WIthout being clairvoyant, or literally knowing every detail involved, how can anyone believe what they hear from ... them? That is one thought about this. The other thought going through my head (any time I read about these constant dysfunctional events) is, "Can't they ever simply tell the truth so things can get fixed?"

Nah! I didn't think so.

Yes. Very French sounding names.

Not every French person is called Pierre, nor is every German called Hans.

Yes. Very French sounding names.

Not every French person is called Pierre, nor is every German called Hans.

What's your point? That these North Africans French passport holders are actually proud Frenchmen? Ok.

What is your point mr. Hans ? What difference does it make? Please explain. I have a German name but am not German. You shouls know better being german.

Yes. Very French sounding names.

Does it matter? Are you trying to start the same discussion again?

The name of the second guy sounds real French BTW.

Correct for the second name - that makes it 33% for this case.

No need for discussion, it's just a running gag.

As a French passport holder, the rarity of French names among French passport holders in Thailand is just startling enough to be commented on, especially so as names are often witheld in the French press... on purpose.