4 killed, 7 injured in head-on crash in Kalasin

[webfact]

4 killed, 7 injured in head-on crash in Kalasin

By The Nation

 

 

KALASIN: -- A sedan and a van crashed head on at an intersection in Kalasin’s Muang district on Monday night, causing four deaths and seven injuries.

Lt-Colonel Chuchart Utthisin, inspector of Muang Kalasin Police Station, said the accident happened at about 8pm in front of a PTT petrol station in tambon Loob.

 

Chuchart said Ming Ubolkhet, 64, the driver of the sedan, Sompong Namon, 71 and Ruangsak Khamhirat, 50, both passengers in the car, were killed. Another car passenger, Boonthom Thaweechote, 73, died at a hospital.

 

The van was driven by Somchai Premproi, 34. He and his six passengers were injured.

 

Witnesses told police that the occupants of the car, who were returning from a funeral in Uon Thani province, stopped to buy meat at a roadside stall.

 

They said when the car left the store it inexplicably drove down the wrong side of the road.

 

The van driver said the car suddenly went into his lane at the intersection, resulting in the head-on crash.

 

The Muang Kalasin Police Station chief, Colonel Chaiyaporn Pongsak, said police will investigate to find who was at fault.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30323820

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-15

[trogers]

Came back from a funeral, and a rush to Nirvana by driving on the wrong side of the road...

[gummy]

" The car inexplicably drove down the wrong side of the road".    Really ? the car does not drive anywhere without a driver.  Nothing inexplicable about a Thai driver who is not alert .  Just normal.  Maybe too much to drink at the funeral or even just a little drink and become drowsy and lost attention. Having said that it appeared to be  a high speed impact looking at the damage so were there two issues here perhaps ? The car driver on the wrong side plus perhaps a van driver driving far too fast as they usually do ?

Edited August 15, 2017 by gummy

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

The van was driven by Somchai

Somchai wins the day.

[NCC1701A]

"They said when the car left the store it inexplicably drove down the wrong side of the road."

 

I heard my motorcycle coming back from partying all night long this morning.

 

I gave it hell as it was obvious it had fallen over at some point.

 

RIP victims of the do nothing Thai police/government.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2017 by NCC1701A

[British Bulldog]

Confusing headlines; "4 killed 7 injured" .... I count 4 people in the sedan killed plus Somchai and 6 passengers = 11 ... what a waste of lives ! Bad enough seeing young people die from road accidents but a 73 year old who must have dodged one or two accidents in Thailand during his life, only to have it ended in a stupid car crash ...

[Rc2702]

I wonder if this could have been prevented with the permanent use of traffic lights etc?

 

Kalasin city regularly switch off these traffic lights and it becomes a free for all. Also the road markings on that stretch of rd are incorrect and you really need to see it to believe it. RIP 

[csabo]

You ever notice slowing down is not an option here? Blow the horn, flash the lights, kill ten people yes but slow down a little... Never! 

[Moti24]

1 hour ago, British Bulldog said:

Confusing headlines; "4 killed 7 injured" .... I count 4 people in the sedan killed plus Somchai and 6 passengers = 11 ... what a waste of lives ! Bad enough seeing young people die from road accidents but a 73 year old who must have dodged one or two accidents in Thailand during his life, only to have it ended in a stupid car crash ...

How is it confusing?  Four people in the sedan died, three at the scene and one in hospital.  All seven in the van were injured.  

 

RiP to the sedan occupants.  The BiB will sort it out.

[Bangkok Barry]

We were driving from Kalasin to Somdet one night and had to avoid a car coming at us in the fast lane. Probably had no idea he/she was on a dual carriageway.

I love the report that the police will investigate who was at fault. I'll give them a clue to help them on their way. It might have been the driver who was tootling along on the wrong side of the road. I know we see that every day here, but it might give them a start as to who to blame. Of course, maybe they'll say it was suicide. Same as.

[Happyman58]

1 hour ago, Rc2702 said:

I wonder if this could have been prevented with the permanent use of traffic lights etc?

 

Kalasin city regularly switch off these traffic lights and it becomes a free for all. Also the road markings on that stretch of rd are incorrect and you really need to see it to believe it. RIP 

Same here in Ubon They turn the traffic lights off at a busy intersection. Why? Then again you have to wonder why they do some things in Thailand   But same ole same ole If you believe the Van driver and he was not speeding (tongue in cheek) i would not be surprised they were driving down the wrong side of the road. That is just normal in Thailand Cops Do they have cops here? Really I will make this statement and you can agree or not agree 85% of the Thai population should not be driving a car and that includes some members of the Thai Police force

[PeCeDe]

1 hour ago, csabo said:

You ever notice slowing down is not an option here? Blow the horn, flash the lights, kill ten people yes but slow down a little... Never! 

Like driving in Manhattan, cars there have no brakes, just an accelerator and very large horn. What a heart rending story and picture, RIP to all. I remember going back to the UK after years in the States, coming out of driveways was at first confusing and dangerous, both to me, and those on the road.

[Jonnapat]

Trying hard to remember the last time I heard a story like this. 

[Ossy]

 

(Witnesses) . . . They said when the car left the store it inexplicably drove down the wrong side of the road.

The van driver said the car suddenly went into his lane at the intersection, resulting in the head-on crash.

The Muang Kalasin Police Station chief, Colonel Chaiyaporn Pongsak, said police will investigate to find who was at fault. For the quick-thinking Thai police, this one is going to take some sorting.

I have to agree with Gummy, though . . . the damage looks like 2 express trains have collided. If the car had only just entered the wrong lane, its speed, relative to the damage, would be almost negligible. Sadly, Thai van-drivers are amongst the worst in the world, cruising at far over the speed limit and not in the habit of giving way, especially to traffic going the wrong way on their bit of road.

Perhaps even more urgent than the recent 'seat-belts-all-round' law would be the compulsory fitting and use of tachographs in vans, as well as in trucks and buses, all of which seem to have more than their fair share of accidents.

 

[csabo]

6 minutes ago, PeCeDe said:

Like driving in Manhattan, cars there have no brakes, just an accelerator and very large horn. What a heart rending story and picture, RIP to all. I remember going back to the UK after years in the States, coming out of driveways was at first confusing and dangerous, both to me, and those on the road.

That's not fair to Manhattan.  The rush there is to get in as many green lights in a row as you can as there are lights at every block but even Manhattanites slow down to avoid an obvious impending collision.  Thais? Never.  They are willing to take their pride to the grave over yielding to another motorist any day of the week.  You bring up a good point though.  I jumped in my assessment assuming Thais had functioning brakes.  Presumably they function as well as their taillights.

I know how you feel about switching sides though.  After one too many weeks in the Caymans I returned to NY and was happily driving on the wrong side of the road flashing my headlights to warn off all the "other crazy drivers" on the real right side.  Amazing how fast my brain flipped to left side driving.  When I go back to the States now I flat out tell my passengers I will probably do it and to correct me as quickly as possible.  

[csabo]

1 hour ago, Moti24 said:

How is it confusing?  Four people in the sedan died, three at the scene and one in hospital.  All seven in the van were injured.  

 

RiP to the sedan occupants.  The BiB will sort it out.

It's like most headlines in Thailand "3 car accident in Chiang Rai leaves 26 dead." HUH?!?!

[PeCeDe]

4 minutes ago, csabo said:

That's not fair to Manhattan.  The rush there is to get in as many green lights in a row as you can as there are lights at every block but even Manhattanites slow down to avoid an obvious impending collision.  Thais? Never.  They are willing to take their pride to the grave over yielding to another motorist any day of the week.  You bring up a good point though.  I jumped in my assessment assuming Thais had functioning brakes.  Presumably they function as well as their taillights.

I know how you feel about switching sides though.  After one too many weeks in the Caymans I returned to NY and was happily driving on the wrong side of the road flashing my headlights to warn off all the "other crazy drivers" on the real right side.  Amazing how fast my brain flipped to left side driving.  When I go back to the States now I flat out tell my passengers I will probably do it and to correct me as quickly as possible.  

Like me you've obviously spent time in NYC. What I find helpful when switching sides is to keep my watch strap on the right wrist when I'm supposed to drive on the left, then remember to keep the watch towards the middle of the road.

[Moti24]

5 minutes ago, csabo said:

It's like most headlines in Thailand "3 car accident in Chiang Rai leaves 26 dead." HUH?!?!

Nothing wrong with the headline, hence my comment to British Bulldog.

 

Read the article.

[csabo]

Just now, Moti24 said:

Nothing wrong with the headline, hence my comment to British Bulldog.

 

Read the article.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facetious

 

Read the link.

[Moti24]

3 minutes ago, csabo said:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facetious

 

Read the link.

You don't seem to understand your own post, so I'll not waste my time with anymore replies.

 

Have a nice day.

[eeyang wah]

1 hour ago, Moti24 said:

The BiB will sort it out.

WHAT?

[TKDfella]

If the witnesses knew those in the car were returning from a funeral presumably they chatted to each other. Did the driver get out of the car? If so was he intoxicated? Oh I'm sure the police will sort it out...no problem brake and steering gear failure.

[garbolino]

2 hours ago, Moti24 said:

How is it confusing?  Four people in the sedan died, three at the scene and one in hospital.  All seven in the van were injured.  

 

RiP to the sedan occupants.  The BiB will sort it out.

IT STATES that the Police are investigating.....strange, as MOST reports state that the Police will check the cctv !!! without cctv these bib HAVE NO IDEA how to investigate

Edited August 15, 2017 by garbolino
extra thought

[zzaa09]

8 hours ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

Somchai wins the day.

Nor had a chance to flee the scene.

 

The usual thoughtless road tragedy without consequence.

[lvr181]

2 hours ago, Moti24 said:

How is it confusing?  Four people in the sedan died, three at the scene and one in hospital.  All seven in the van were injured.  

 

RiP to the sedan occupants.  The BiB will sort it out.

"RiP to the sedan occupants.  The BiB will sort it out."  (my italics)

 

Not an appropriate time to joke  

[wvavin]

The sedan driver must have told the deceased at the funeral that they would be meeting shortly!

[csabo]

1 hour ago, Moti24 said:

You don't seem to understand your own post, so I'll not waste my time with anymore replies.

 

Have a nice day.

#nottoobriteeyretard?

 

[Rc2702]

It's the weirdest thing to see traffic lights being turned off anywhere but a country with some if not the most hazardous rds in the world. It just cannot be made up.

[Elkski]

Rip.   I will wait for official word but such a tragedy. I wonder what seat belt usage was?  In USA they always specify in the initial article as away to educate people.   I do think I missed the engineering class where you estimate speed of two vehicles based on just the damage and vehicle types.    

[gandalf12]

2 hours ago, garbolino said:

IT STATES that the Police are investigating.....strange, as MOST reports state that the Police will check the cctv !!! without cctv these bib HAVE NO IDEA how to investigate

Dont have much clue with the CCTV either