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Phuket Motorcycle Collision Kills Expat, Teen, Seriously Injures Boy
By Sert Tongdee Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The dead expat has been identified as a New Zealander, aged 35, police told Phuketwan on Friday. His family is being notified. He had borrowed the motorcycle from a friend, officers learned after tracing the owner.
PHUKET: Two motorcycles collided in southern Phuket early today, killing a lone expat rider and a 17-year-old boy on the other bike.
A 14-year-old is critically injured and in intensive care at a Phuket hospital after the crash.
The collision took place close to the centre of the wide Viset Road near Soi Mangosteen about 4am. Police were at a loss to understand why it happened.
The Westerner, wearing dark shorts and a dark shirt and sandals, was carrying 750 baht but no identification. No helmets were found at the smash scene.
The injured teenager and the dead 17-year-old were heading south to the Rawai sea gypsy village near the pier after a sea gypsy ceremony at Koh Sireh, east of Phuket City.
The expat, whose nationality is not yet known, was riding north. He was wearing a jade necklet and looked to be about 35 years old.
Both bodies and the injured youth were taken to Vachira Phket Hospital in Phuket City.
Phuket Public Health Office is conducting a campaign to reduce the road toll but has not released monthly statistics since April, when numbers were trending slightly down on previous years.
A disproportionate number of expat residents and tourists are killed on Phuket's roads, especially on motorcycles.
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Comments
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Very sad. How was the foreigner identified as an expat rather than a tourist?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
October 31, 2012 11:46
Editor Comment:
As we've explained more than once, we use the term expat to cover both tourists and residents. Embassies and police do not distinguish expats from tourists, nor do we.
This happened opposite my house on a blind spot just over the brow of the hill.
Sadly accidents are a common occurrence on this stretch of of road as people treat this road like a race track often racing bikes late at night.
Posted by
rich
on
October 31, 2012 12:43
so do you see all expatriates as long term tourists (until money runs out or dead), or do you think all tourists are wannabe expatriate near bangla road?
Posted by
ron
on
October 31, 2012 13:11
@Ed.:"Embassies and police do not distinguish expats from tourists, nor do we."
Maybe the police and embassies have not yet determined whether the foreigner is here on holiday or is living here as an expatriate, but that is no excuse for you to make the same mistake by calling all foreigners "expats".
Regarding the accident, I too hear bikes racing up and down Viset road at night near the Mangosteen. I also hear ambulances but rarely see a police vehicle. Maybe there is a connection.
Posted by
Buster
on
October 31, 2012 13:21
Editor Comment:
We don't use the word ''foreigner'' because the word is inappropriate in the modern world. Please tel us, Buster, whether the poor dead man is a tourist or an expat by your definition.
You don't know? Neither do we. There are many cases where it's impossible to tell.
No helmets found at the scene !! again and again......The authorities have to start at the schools to make people aware that helmets can save lives (not in all accidents). I watch parents running pass the police everyday taking the kids to school and no one is stopped!!!
Posted by
sean
on
October 31, 2012 14:01
Not making conclusions in regards to this accident, but one suggestion I am sure would help save lives and many accidents is the "one the spot" fine of 1000Baht for motorcyles and salangs that do not have working front, back and in the case of the salang side lights. I have almost had an accident at night on many occasions as so many bikes do not have lights. I know some people are on a tight budget but the price of a bulb is money well spent than the terrible news of a loved one dying. If people use money as an excuse not to buy a bulb they should not be endangering themselves and innocent other road users.
Posted by
Happy Farang
on
October 31, 2012 14:05
without a helmet you dont need to race,
since when are newborn allowed on bikes, without helmets? tight budget as well?
why no one gives a damn that everyone carrying babies on bikes? insane
Posted by
saskiaU
on
October 31, 2012 14:44
Editor Comment:
Everybody cares, but what alternative is there when there is no safe public bus network on Phuket? Should mothers with babes in arms be forced to walk? Complain about the lack of public transport to the taxi and tuk-tuk cartels.
"Aliens" is maybe more appropriate, as the immigration call us ! RIP whatever he is.
Posted by
Jean_paul Patrick
on
October 31, 2012 14:55
Editor Comment:
This site is read by many people, so your term ''us'' is not really suitable. I guess you mean you are a non-Thai passport holder.
Editor's Comment: "We don't use the word ''foreigner'' because the word is inappropriate in the modern world."
Ed, if you are worried about upsetting foreign tourists here on holiday by calling them 'foreigners', has it ever occurred to you that some foreign tourists would not want to be called 'expats'?
You also say: "Please tell us, Buster, whether the poor dead man is a tourist or an expat by your definition."
Since I don't know whether he is here on holiday or living here, I cannot say. So I would call him a foreigner, a term which encompasses both possibilities.
I would much rather call him a 'foreigner', which is accurate, than call him an 'expat', which may be incorrect.
Posted by
Buster
on
October 31, 2012 16:42
Editor Comment:
He's only a ''foreigner'' if he feels like a ''foreigner,'' Buster. It's a word that is only fractionally better than ''alien.'' Ted Turner, founder of CNN, outlawed the use of the word ''foreigner'' and I think he got it right. For all you know, the person you describe as a ''foreigner'' could have done the tests required to become a Thai citizen.
pwan "Should mothers with babes in arms be forced to walk?" no, the babies will have to stay at home, if you say this sentence to a western cop, your baby ll be taken away and you go to asylum because the head is not right.
Posted by
saskiaU
on
October 31, 2012 16:53
"Aliens" is maybe more appropriate, as the immigration call us ! RIP whatever he is.
Posted by Jean_paul Patrick
---------------------
FYI : is it not Thailand using this Term but America Use it and as well, us Officer in border or even citizen in a country use it, it's a term polite using (english grammar ) so i Believe much better to blame Usa then instead Thailand if peoples not like this term .
Cheers
Posted by
ratatouee
on
October 31, 2012 17:00
Re your frequent use of the old argument that foreigner is only fractionally better than ''alien.'' Ted Turner, founder of CNN, outlawed the use of the word ''foreigner'' and I think he got it right.Your words !
Here is the way that Turner said it:
Ted Turner banned on-air usage of the word "foreign," arguing that they were an international, global news organization so no one was really "foreign."
Absolutely not in any way is there any connection with what he said and with what you compare it with now!!
HE banned it [and only on air!!]simply because in his opinion CNN was an international global organisation so no one was really foreign...fair enough.
People visiting Thailand from foreign counties ,whether staying long term or just holidaying are indeed foreigners.
This word is both factual and appropriate...except of course in your and only your eyes.
Your argument is flawed and non valid.
Posted by
davidj949
on
October 31, 2012 17:56
Editor Comment:
Ted Turner started CNN long before the internet and the broadening of social media and a global approach that has made everything he said in the narrow context of one ''international'' television outlet even more true in the 21st century. Perhaps you fail to understand the expansion of media and the changing world that encourages the feeling more people have that there are no longer defined spaces for tribes or nations. Feel free to look up old stuff and recite it as if it's still relevant and hasn't evolved. Meanwhile, if I feel like a foreigner anywhere on the planet, davidj949, I'll let you know.
Interesting how yet another sad story of which we still are to find out the circumstances leads to a discussion on semantics... Seriously, if the word expat is the only word you see and react on in this story I am somewhat concerned where this whole thing is going!! Two men died a tragic death in an accident that we sofar know very little about! RIP both of you! And my sincere wishes that the young survivor will make it!
Posted by
Teddy
on
October 31, 2012 18:49
Wow, everyone gets so petty. The story is about a man and a child's life. Yet you all start bickering if he's an Expat or Foreigner... Who really cares?
Two people have died, get a grip on reality rather than your petty squabbles about what you want to call a visitor long or short term here in Thailand.
Posted by
Tbs
on
October 31, 2012 20:11
Foreigner - a person from outside one's community.
I guess, this works fine, here in Thailand!
"The collision took place close to the centre of the wide Viset Road near Soi Mangosteen about 4am. Police were at a loss to understand why it happened."
Close to the center? But there is still a south - and a northbound side. It happens in the way of the foreigner', or in the way of the Thai nationals? That could be a reasonable clue, who's fault it was. Beside the 'no helmet', maybe drunk driving, speeding things.
But since the foreigner is dead, it wouldn't be a wonder and more important, to protect the youth and Thailand, right?
Posted by
Foreigner in Thailand
on
November 1, 2012 07:35
Editor Comment:
What a biased comment, bordering on bigotry. Why make assumptions? If you visit the scene perhaps the usual white marks will reveal where the collision took place. And perhaps you prefer to stay a ''foreigner,'' wherever you are.
There are actually very few genuine expats in Thailand. An expat is an individual of high net worth and high skills, working for a major company (often a multinational corporation) who has a contract in a country and enjoys a generous remuneration package that also usually includes a car and a house provided by his company. The "expats" in Thailand are mostly "illegal workers", "visa cheats" or at the very least "visa abusers", because they may be within the law doing visa runs every 3 months to the border, but are abusing the system because their purpose of being in Thailand is not tourism, it's usually sexual. It's a sad fact but there are more Jimmy Savile like characters (Westerners) in Thailand than any other country on earth.
Posted by
True Expat
on
November 1, 2012 09:40
Editor Comment:
There's no evidence for any of hat, True Expat. You're just a troll out to have some sport. Pathetic drivel, really.
Whilst I am happy to stay in Thailand as the pros outweight the cons in my situation but having travelled in Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia, Thailand is the only country that I have been to that uses the word "Farang" (Foreigner) to mean all other nationalities that are not Thai. I think this has to do with the fact that Thailand unlike many of the other SE Asian countries were never a colony of Britain, or France etc. I think that most modern Thai's do distunguish between say German and British and hope with the implementation of Asean in 2015 people are referred to more by their nationality than just a "Farang" I also hope that English is mandatory in schools as Thailand needs to compete for business.
Posted by
Happy Farang
on
November 1, 2012 12:05
True Expat I take offence that you feel most foreigners are only in Thailand for sex. My girlfriend is a teacher and nurse who is 24 years old and stunning looking. She would never go into a bar with or without me but could earn much more than she does. She is also fluent is written and spoken English. When I take her to the beach there is always some silly chap asking her for sex but she says no. Whilst there are many bargirls I do not think bargirls are bad people it is fact they join that profession for money and many foreigners get confused and think they will find love. If the bargirl and the man are happy in the exchange of sex for money no problem. But True Expat there are normal foreigners here as well like my girlfriend and I.
Posted by
Happy Farang
on
November 1, 2012 12:35
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Very sad. How was the foreigner identified as an expat rather than a tourist?
Posted by Anonymous on October 31, 2012 11:46
Editor Comment:
As we've explained more than once, we use the term expat to cover both tourists and residents. Embassies and police do not distinguish expats from tourists, nor do we.