Five days missing - Thai student who drove off cliff in California still not located

[webfact]

Five days missing - Thai student who drove off cliff in California still not located

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign ministry said it was working closely with counterparts in the US on the case of two Thai people missing following a road accident in California.

 

They drove their car off a cliff into a deep ravine. The car is believed to be submerged under fast moving water.

 

The California Highway Patrol is on the case with an expert team looking for the car and its occupants.

 

One is Thiwadee Saengsuriyarit who went to study in the States. Her family has not heard from her since Wednesday last week.

 

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santiphithak said that both the Thais here and at the LA consulate were working closely with the local authorities on finding the missing people.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-08-01

[inThailand]

Only possessed a Thai drivers license?  Case closed!

[HappyinNE]

And what is wrong with a Thai drivers license?  I drive on one in Thailand and also in the US.  I even use it to rent the car in the US. 

[snoop1130]

Missing Thai students’ rented car found at bottom of cliff in US national park

By The Nation

 

 

Authorities in the US have found the rented car of two Thai students that plunged into a canyon in Kings Canyon National Park in California, but they could not reach the site of the crash due to strong river currents and steep cliffs, said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Busadee Santipitak on Tuesday.

 

The Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles has contacted local authorities involved in investigating the accident and has been told that the California Highway Patrol is using all available means to retrieve the vehicle, she said.

 

The disappearance of Thiwadee Sangsuriyarit and her friend was revealed by Methinee Meeluea, a Facebook user, who posted on Facebook that Thiwadee, or “Min”, and her friend rented a car to visit Kings Canyon National Park but she had lost contact with her since July 26.

 

Thiwadee’s sister alerted US police that she had gone missing during her road trip to the park. The police then searched for her by helicopter and found the vehicle, which had plunged over a 150-metre deep cliff, leaving half of the car submerged in water.

 

However, they could not locate Thiwadee and her friend, who was identified only by her nickname “Golf”.

 

Methinee asked other Facebook users to pray for the pair’s safe return.

 

Methinee said the accident appeared to take place on Freeway 180 on the way to the park.

 

Busadee told a press briefing that the site where the car was found had strong water currents and challenging geographical conditions that made it difficult to reach.

 

“The site is deep down a cliff and the water there rises fast and the current is very strong,” she said.

 

Thai Consul General Tanee Sangrat will meet police on Wednesday to coordinate the search for the students.

 

The spokesperson said that the families of both students were travelling from Thailand to the US.

 

The Consular Affairs Department has issued a letter of recommendation for the families to help facilitate their entry to the US, she said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30322468

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-8-1

[barmatt]

Unfortunately they did everything the GPS told them to do!

[aussie11950]

This is a serious situation and not the time to be flippant. 

I hope the girls are found safe. 

[tryasimight]

Not a hope mate.

Did you read the height of the cliff?  

Not even the RTP could make that one up.

[ALFREDO]

On 1/8/2560 at 1:04 PM, inThailand said:

Only possessed a Thai drivers license?  Case closed!

 

On 1/8/2560 at 3:00 PM, HappyinNE said:

And what is wrong with a Thai drivers license?  I drive on one in Thailand and also in the US.  I even use it to rent the car in the US. 

Having a Thai Drivers license, does not automatic and necessarily mean, that you cannot drive well enough, but its a good possibility, special on steep roads - mountain roads and more likely that you do not know much or nothing about rules of driving. 

 

A good possibility the women never drove real mountains or steep roads before. 

[tryasimight]

2 minutes ago, ALFREDO said:

 

Having a Thai Drivers license, does not automatic and necessarily mean, that you cannot drive well enough, but its a good possibility, special on steep roads - mountain roads and more likely that you do not know much or nothing about rules of driving. 

 

A good possibility the women never drove real mountains or steep roads before. 

or on the "wrong" side of the road.

 

I recall reading about an Aussie family many years ago , Mum , Dad, and two kids of Italian heritage going back to see long lost rellies, getting killed on the first roundabout from the airport (Leonardo Da Vinci Airport?) after hiring a car.

 

 

[ALFREDO]

5 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

or on the "wrong" side of the road.

 

I recall reading about an Aussie family many years ago , Mum , Dad, and two kids of Italian heritage going back to see long lost rellies, getting killed on the first roundabout from the airport (Leonardo Da Vinci Airport?) after hiring a car.

 

 

True - all possible 

https://web.facebook.com/methinee.meeluea

[inThailand]

2 hours ago, ALFREDO said:

 

Having a Thai Drivers license, does not automatic and necessarily mean, that you cannot drive well enough, but its a good possibility, special on steep roads - mountain roads and more likely that you do not know much or nothing about rules of driving. 

 

A good possibility the women never drove real mountains or steep roads before. 

What country do you live in? 200B gets you a license without passing the written or driving test.

 

 

[tryasimight]

3 minutes ago, inThailand said:

What country do you live in? 200B gets you a license without passing the written or driving test.

 

 

I reiterate..and quote the OP in US terms......a 500 foot cliff.......good luck with the seat belts and airbags

[inThailand]

5 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

I reiterate..and quote the OP in US terms......a 500 foot cliff.......good luck with the seat belts and airbags

Maybe if she could drive 500 or 2000 ft cliff is a non factor? Maybe the cliff jumped in front of her or maybe it was driver error?

Edited August 2, 2017 by inThailand
fat fingers

[gk10002000]

been through there many times. If one is staring at the gps, twittering, taking photos, etc. and not focusing on the road, things like this can happen.  Very hilly, blind curves and all that stuff up that way.  It is not like driving on a straight highway

[inThailand]

Another making a lame  excuse of someone who can't drive!

 

How many 100,000s or millions drove this same road without incident?ppppp

[tryasimight]

1 hour ago, gk10002000 said:

been through there many times. If one is staring at the gps, twittering, taking photos, etc. and not focusing on the road, things like this can happen.  Very hilly, blind curves and all that stuff up that way.  It is not like driving on a straight highway

 No apparently its not like driving on a straight Highway with 500 foot drop off cliffs.

 

So basically...idiots who happened to die?

 

Gps...twittering...spare me........

[ALFREDO]

10 hours ago, inThailand said:

What country do you live in? 200B gets you a license without passing the written or driving test.

 

 

I live in rural Thailand Udon Thani in the countryside - so I know what I writing about - 200 Baht - so cheap - I not hear that until now, but a bit higher maybe true.

Anyway - 

Had my Thai sister in law driven to a official Driving school, some years ago -  for some days - my European brother in law opinion was,  she goes driving school in Thailand - was one week and included driving and learning rules - cost 4 or 5.000 Baht - she got that  and then in Europe she was allowed 6 month driving with that Thai license and then she had to make a Driving Test -  no rules test - only driving test to get then the necessary  Austrian license.

 

BUT - she does not drive until today - my brother in law opinion - she will never come by a Austrian Practice - only - driving on the road test and he also would not like she drives their daughter there around. 

[ALFREDO]

9 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

been through there many times. If one is staring at the gps, twittering, taking photos, etc. and not focusing on the road, things like this can happen.  Very hilly, blind curves and all that stuff up that way.  It is not like driving on a straight highway

 

9 hours ago, inThailand said:

Another making a lame  excuse of someone who can't drive!

 

How many 100,000s or millions drove this same road without incident?ppppp

As it can be seen in Phuket, where Patong is only reachable from three more or less short but steep hill roads - special from Kathu - most traffic is driven there - is extremely steep - Alps style also only few curves - but enough -

 

Many accidents on that road, often also Buses and trucks lorries - who do not know how to act with such steep roads. 

 

Thais - are not used to mountain roads - except parts of Northern Thailand and some isolated other places - roads. 

[gk10002000]

6 hours ago, tryasimight said:

 No apparently its not like driving on a straight Highway with 500 foot drop off cliffs.

 

So basically...idiots who happened to die?

 

Gps...twittering...spare me........

Straight highways can have 500 foot drop off cliffs on either side.  The height of the road relative to the local terrain is not a factor in the road being straight.  The turns and road conditions are the factor

[webfact]

Thai students’ rental car crashed in US park inaccessible for a month: Highway Patrol

By The Nation

 

 

IT MAY take authorities a month before they can reach the rental car of two Thai students that plunged into a canyon in Kings Canyon National Park in California, while their families wait for visas to get into the US.

 

The vehicle was found submerged in the water at the bottom of a 150-metre cliff close to a highway that approaches the park, reported a Thai-language online newspaper in the US yesterday.

 

Postgraduate students Thiwadee Sangsuriyarit, 24, and Bhakapon Chairatanatongporn, 28, of South Florida University, went missing late last month on their way to the park. They were reported missing when they did not return to their hotel.

 

Thiwadee’s mother said she was hoping for a miracle and praying that her daughter was safe.

 

Police found 20-metre skid marks on the highway where the car was believed to have plunged over the cliff.

 

Bhakaphon’s mother said that her son, nicknamed “Golf”, had gone to study engineering at the university about 18 months ago. He was due to graduate in December and the family was planning to attend the graduation ceremony in the US.

 

She said she usually warned her son not to drive in the US as he was not used to the roads. However, she thought her son was the driver as she had been told that he had an international driving licence. 

 

Now she said she was too sad to even look at his photos.

 

Both families were waiting for the visas to go to the US.

 

The car was found in a helicopter search at the national park.

 

However, the rough terrain, steep cliffs and fast-flowing river made the scene extremely difficult to access.

 

Siam Media online reported that California Highway Patrol had told Thai Consul General Tanee Sangrat that there was no space in the area for a helicopter to land safely.

 

The only way to access the accident site was by boat, the online newspaper said, but because of the melting snow and strong current it would be too dangerous. 

 

“The rescue team may have to spend about a month to reach it, depending on the situation. They could not give an exact timetable,” reported the online newspaper.

 

Thiwadee’s family told a television station that she was majoring in environmental studies at the university and she loved nature and adventure travel. 

 

They lost contact with Thiwadee on July 26 and were shocked when they learned of her disappearance from her friends.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30322580

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-03

[Thechook]

Sad that it will take so long and feel for the families.  They obviously didnt know the roads and with 20 mtr skid marks they must have been going at speed.

[JAS21]

On 8/1/2017 at 9:00 AM, HappyinNE said:

And what is wrong with a Thai drivers license?  I drive on one in Thailand and also in the US.  I even use it to rent the car in the US. 

Whilst these apparently very unfortunate people may well have been competent drivers ... as you have a Thai Drivers Licence you should be well aware that that it takes little skill or common sense to obtain one. This fact is demonstrated daily ...repeatedly ... 

[Stargeezr]

If these women were going to fast, it shows that they did not know the road they were

driving, and it cost them to go off the road. Sadly the roads along the coast are not as good

as they once were due to earthquakes, and it may be that the road condition contributed to the

car crash. Hope they will be located.

Geezer

[atyclb]

a thai friends brother living in the us is always frustrated and upset because police stop and summons him for dui and apparently the cops dont accept bribes.

[VMOMMO]

I have driven on this road and it is a very tricky road with many steep drop offs. I would not want my daughters, who learned to drive in the US, driving on it until they are much more experienced. This accident could have been caused by many things including another vehicle crossing into their lane, animals, patches of ice or just a mistake on their part. There is no room for error. There is also no mobile phone service in the area so no twitter or Facebook. The Kings River is also very dangerous right now with the snow melt. While we were there this summer, two people had already drowned in the river. While I understand they can't reach the car now, think of the added suffering this brings to the families. 

Edited August 3, 2017 by VMOMMO
Spelling

[Morakot]

Quote

The only way to access the accident site was by boat, the online newspaper said, but because of the melting snow and strong current it would be too dangerous. 

 

Melting snow in July/August in California?

[Golden Triangle]

47 minutes ago, Morakot said:

 

Melting snow in July/August in California?

Me and the ex went to Colorado in July a few years back, the snow on the higher levels was still 20 feet high in parts, the rivers are fed by snowmelt during the Summer period. See link below for more info (if you're interested) 

 

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/03/534877196/californias-near-record-snowpack-is-melting-into-raging-rivers

[Cereal]

I didn't read if it said they were traveling up or down the slope or how steep it was. Odd, these are germane to the story in my opinion.

[Mac98]

Being familiar with both California mountains and Thai mountains I can see two possible scenarios: 1) as center lines have no meaning in Thailand, even on mountain curves, they could have been in the lane if an oncoming car, swerved and lost control. The oncoming car would have rounded the curve and never seen them leave the roadway; 2) they stopped to take pictures, were kidnapped and their car pushed off the cliff. And, no, I am not being flippant. As a newspaper editor in California I ran more than a few such stories. 

[Mrjlh]

Watching Nation News and cousin is very angry that the bodies have not been retrieved.  He thinks it's a simple recovery. Problem is the cars location in a fast flowing river 500 feet (152 meters) below the roads surface, the cousin refuses to accept the reality of the situation. Of course he is an engineer and knows better. The river in Kings Canyon is at it's peak with snow melt. The water is probably around 33-40 degrees F (0-5C) and moving over 30 km/h.  5-10 minutes exposure and you die. Too dangerous to put a boat in right now and a helicopter can't reach it due to very narrow canyon walls.   The longest approved cable for rescue is 300 feet.  They need to wait for the water level to recede to recover the bodies.  No other choice.

 

One picture shows clearly the car in the middle of the river. The large rocks along with the swift water prevents safe recovery.  The second photo shows the impact of the car.  The car hit the guard rail with such force, the 10 foot steel guard rail section was almost completely folded back.  Along with 20 metes of skid mark the driver was driving too fast. I suspect after the investigation is completed the CHP will tell us exactly how fast he was driving.

 

I know the people in the  rescue team in the area, if there is a way they will attempt a recover the bodies as soon as it is safe to do so. Sad but true.

 

Edited August 11, 2017 by Mrjlh
typo