NINE tourists from Singapore were among 12 people injured when a mini-bus bound from Phuket to Koh Lanta in Krabi collided with a motorcycle today.
The mini-bus apparently hit the motorcycle, throwing the two people on the motorcycle onto the road, then careened into a pile of sand at the roadside.
Phuketwan was on the scene minutes after the mishap, in the Phang Nga village of Baan Na Toey, about noon.
We publish the accompanying photo album with no apologies, in the hope that drivers will slow down over the holiday season.
The injured were last night in four hospitals in Phuket and Phang Nga.
When Phuketwan arrived on the scene, villagers had turned out in large numbers but much still needed to be done.
Two victims, apparently women thrown from the motorcycle, were prostrate in the middle of the main road.
Umbrellas were being held above them while efforts were made to keep them as comfortable as possible. One victim was bleeding profusely.
The minibus had ploughed on, into a pile of sand by the roadside, which brought it to a halt.
Some passengers had already scrambled free from the minibus and had been guided, some with bloody faces, to the veranda of a home nearby.
As we looked on, three villagers attempted to remove a man from the front seat, while other passengers tumbled from the rear of the van to the ground.
An ambulance had by this time arrived and paramedics began treating the first of the motorcycle riders.
Within minutes, a second ambulance roared in and paramedics began treating the second victim, spreadeagled on the roadway.
It appeared to be fortunate that the minibus had hit the pile of sand, otherwise it would have continued on and either plunged into a ditch or hit a house.
The Governor of Krabi, Siwa Siurisoawaluk, expressed the hope this afternoon that all the victims recover speedily.
He urged motorists throughout all Andaman provinces to drive carefully through the New Year holiday season.
Santa Better Wear a Helmet: Photo Special
Photo Album Police checkpoints are springing up in surprising places around Phuket. One appeared last night near Tesco-Lotus, and officers and camouflage clad volunteers booked offenders.
'Santa Better Wear a Helmet: Photo Special
The mini-bus apparently hit the motorcycle, throwing the two people on the motorcycle onto the road, then careened into a pile of sand at the roadside.
Phuketwan was on the scene minutes after the mishap, in the Phang Nga village of Baan Na Toey, about noon.
We publish the accompanying photo album with no apologies, in the hope that drivers will slow down over the holiday season.
The injured were last night in four hospitals in Phuket and Phang Nga.
When Phuketwan arrived on the scene, villagers had turned out in large numbers but much still needed to be done.
Two victims, apparently women thrown from the motorcycle, were prostrate in the middle of the main road.
Umbrellas were being held above them while efforts were made to keep them as comfortable as possible. One victim was bleeding profusely.
The minibus had ploughed on, into a pile of sand by the roadside, which brought it to a halt.
Some passengers had already scrambled free from the minibus and had been guided, some with bloody faces, to the veranda of a home nearby.
As we looked on, three villagers attempted to remove a man from the front seat, while other passengers tumbled from the rear of the van to the ground.
An ambulance had by this time arrived and paramedics began treating the first of the motorcycle riders.
Within minutes, a second ambulance roared in and paramedics began treating the second victim, spreadeagled on the roadway.
It appeared to be fortunate that the minibus had hit the pile of sand, otherwise it would have continued on and either plunged into a ditch or hit a house.
The Governor of Krabi, Siwa Siurisoawaluk, expressed the hope this afternoon that all the victims recover speedily.
He urged motorists throughout all Andaman provinces to drive carefully through the New Year holiday season.
Santa Better Wear a Helmet: Photo Special
Photo Album Police checkpoints are springing up in surprising places around Phuket. One appeared last night near Tesco-Lotus, and officers and camouflage clad volunteers booked offenders.
'Santa Better Wear a Helmet: Photo Special
Mr. Morrison, Most of the crash victims are my friends. What I find most distasteful is this... while you use this story to serve as a warning to drivers to slow down, the photographer/journalist from Phuketwan completely ignored the severity of the accident and chose to take pictures at the scene instead of rendering much-needed help.
Editor: Your distaste is misplaced, although understandable. The two most severely injured people, those from the motorcycle and lying in the middle of the road, were already being cared for by people who appeared to have some knowledge of what to do. Ambulances arrived for them within perhaps 90 seconds, two minutes at most. The bus passengers were also in the hands of villagers with homes along the roadside. Perhaps 60 people from the village were already on the scene. A steady stream of other vehicles was moving past in both directions. If it had been a crash in an isolated past of Thailand and aid was not already being provided, your point may have some merit. It would then be a difficult decision for a person on the spot. But journalists, even those in war zones with people being seriously hurt around them, shoot pictures. They are not trained to be doctors or nurses. A pat on the hand from Phuketwan would have served no purpose. The photos, though, may help to prevent a similar unnecessary crash. Was the driver in this case speeding or not paying sufficient attention? Perhaps your concern for your friends and others would be better directed at determining the cause of the mishap.
Posted by Bothered on January 2, 2009 04:36