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The tourist minibus tipped on its side in a fatal hit-run on Phuket

Phuket Hit-Run Resort Driver Kills Man, Tips Tourist Van and Flees

Saturday, February 11, 2012
PHUKET: Police are seeking the driver of a covered resort pickup who fled a crash on Phuket in which one man was killed and a tourist minibus overturned last night.

The resort pickup, identified by witnesses as carrying a shell design, sped off into the night about 11.30pm.

The driver left one man dead in a ditch beside Patak Road in southern Phuket and six Chinese tourists shaken, with one breaking a collarbone and later being admitted to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.

The party of Chinese tourists had been staying at Club Med Phuket at Kata beach since February 6 and were on their way to Phuket International Airport about 11.30pm.

Police named the dead motorcyclist as Jutaporn Choothanorm, 20, an employee of Kata Palm Beach Resort.

The fugitive driver clipped one motorcycle then hit Khun Jutaporn, sending his vehicle and its rider into a dry concrete drain alongside the road.

The pickup, heading away from Chalong Circle, then hit the minibus carrying the Chinese tourists, spinning it onto its side.

Police from Chalong station in southern Phuket are investigating. Officers will be targetting resorts with shell symbols.

The crash was one of the most obvious demonstrations yet of Phuket's need for a public transport network to safeguard its tourism industry with one man dead from one resort, police pursuing a driver from another resort, and six tourists from a third resort injured or shaken.

Envoys have confirmed the road death last weekend of a British tourist, Jack Wilcox, 22, on Phuket - probably in southern Phuket, where he was staying.

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So where were the cctv camaras? Off? Please police start policing the roads, all of us need policing.

Posted by Graham on February 11, 2012 10:33

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This is just to sad! However I would like to note that a shell it may not be a resort but could be a spa or even property truck and hope the police are not limiting it to hotels.

Posted by Vfaye on February 11, 2012 10:56

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11:30pm..public transport probably would not have stopped this accident, there are better ways to push the public transport story.

Posted by Laurie Howells on February 11, 2012 12:31

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Come on it must be registered! I am still not holding my breath for the Police to start making a difference, Yesterday I stopped at a traffic light in Chalong with three motorbike police alongside on Bikes and a Thai lady with a child just ran the red light right past them then a young Thai man ran the red light as well and the police didn't do anything guess it's not their job? Maybe we need a traffic division were their only job is riding around making a difference, but I guess that is asking too much.

Posted by mike on February 11, 2012 12:32

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Is a "driver fleeing the scene" of an accident part of the drivers education courses taught here in Thailand?

Posted by sky on February 11, 2012 14:32

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fleeing the scene once more.. these drivers don't care. no morals.

Posted by poppops on February 11, 2012 15:59

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I note you have confirmed the death of my nephew Jack Wilcox, and also note it is written as a "road death" not an accident. Is it therefore under investigation ?

Posted by Anonymous on February 11, 2012 18:33

Editor Comment:

We tend not to use the word ''accident.'' An ''Accident'' to us is something that happens that could not have been avoided. There are not many ''accidents.'' British officials confirm Jack's death but details are difficult to come by because of privacy restrictions. Perhaps some of his friends might clarify what happened.


Tuesday May 22, 2012
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

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