ALL FOUR survivors of a fatal crash in which two Canadian died early on New Year's morning were out of danger and recovering today, Phuket hospital officials reported.

Police said that the driver of the vehicle had been confirmed as a Thai, Kawnchai Kanpai, 28. He was thrown from the converted pickup bus when it hit a roadside pole near Bang Tao temple after collecting four passengers at Phuket International Airport.

Earlier it was thought the driver was Australian Sing Vannavong, 65, a manager at the IndoChine Resort and Villas Phuket. He had gone with an IndoChine employee to collect an uncle from Canada, Huy Songsak, 82, his cousin Aryporn Sunthorn, 50, her husband Kongseng Sunthorn, 61, and another relative from Bangkok.

All six were alive when taken from the crash scene to Thalang Hospital, the closest facility, and admitted soon after 1am. All were transferred soon after to the better-equipped Vachira Hospital in Phuket City where Mrs Sunthorn died at 1.56am and Mr Sunthorn at 4am.

Figures released from the New Year holiday ''seven days of danger'' from December 29 on show that the vast proportion of crashes and deaths on Phuket came on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The 67 crashes recorded resulted in four deaths, with 74 people (54 males and 20 females) admitted to hospital. Sixty-one of the incidents involved motorcycles. Fifteen of those injured were aged over 50.

Police attributed 22 crashes to drinking, 13 to speeding and 13 to careless driving. The worst time to be on the road was between 1am and 4am when 22 incidents were recorded.

At police checkpoints around Phuket during the seven days, 57,444 vehicles were pulled over and 3496 riders or drivers apprehended for offences. Of that total, 1097 were booked for not wearing helmets, 172 for not wearing seat belts and 2137 for not having licences.