PHUKET police are continuing their hunt for the driver of a tour bus that flipped and crashed on Patong Hill earlier this month, killing one passenger and injuring scores of others.
Police Superintendent Colonel Arayapan Pukbuakao, of Patong's Kathu station, said an arrest warrant had been issued for the driver, named as Yongyot ''Nuan'' Jantip, from Trang. He told passengers that he was aged 29.
No action is being taken against the tour bus company that employed Khun Nuan for three months, but could not produce a copy of his driving licence.
The bus crashed on Phuket's Patong Hill on March 8 as the driver failed to negotiate one of the last bends after a long trip to northern Thailand by a group from Patong for the cremation of a famous monk.
The most seriously injured of the passengers have been released from hospital, Phuketwan was told today.
Another fatal crash came when a Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation water truck, heading towards Mai Khao, ran off Phuket's main Thepkasattri Road at the Bang Duk curve in Phuket's north today.
A male passenger was killed and the injured driver waited at the scene until police from Thachatchai Station arrived about 9.40am.
Phuket's road toll has been trending down so far this year, but officials believe more dangerous curves and bends still require adjustment and effective warning signage.
Preparations are now beginning for next month's Songkran Festival, which generates a nationwide road safety campaign based on ''Seven Days of Danger.'' On Phuket in recent years, the festival celebration has produced lower-than-average fatalities.
Statistics show that the week of the Songkran Festival has gone from one of the most dangerous times to be on the roads in Phuket to one of the safest.
Phuket, Unhappiest Province in All Thailand: SurveyPolice Superintendent Colonel Arayapan Pukbuakao, of Patong's Kathu station, said an arrest warrant had been issued for the driver, named as Yongyot ''Nuan'' Jantip, from Trang. He told passengers that he was aged 29.
No action is being taken against the tour bus company that employed Khun Nuan for three months, but could not produce a copy of his driving licence.
The bus crashed on Phuket's Patong Hill on March 8 as the driver failed to negotiate one of the last bends after a long trip to northern Thailand by a group from Patong for the cremation of a famous monk.
The most seriously injured of the passengers have been released from hospital, Phuketwan was told today.
Another fatal crash came when a Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation water truck, heading towards Mai Khao, ran off Phuket's main Thepkasattri Road at the Bang Duk curve in Phuket's north today.
A male passenger was killed and the injured driver waited at the scene until police from Thachatchai Station arrived about 9.40am.
Phuket's road toll has been trending down so far this year, but officials believe more dangerous curves and bends still require adjustment and effective warning signage.
Preparations are now beginning for next month's Songkran Festival, which generates a nationwide road safety campaign based on ''Seven Days of Danger.'' On Phuket in recent years, the festival celebration has produced lower-than-average fatalities.
Statistics show that the week of the Songkran Festival has gone from one of the most dangerous times to be on the roads in Phuket to one of the safest.
Smiling Shocker Researchers find that Phuket comes last at position 77 in a survey designed to gauge the happiness of people in every province in Thailand. Wouldn't it wipe the smile off your face.
Phuket, Unhappiest Province in All Thailand: Survey
Planet Phuket Project: Making Tuk-Tuks, Taxis Fair
The Quest for Answers Phuketwan's Planet Phuket Project, with Singapore's Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy, aims to find ways of solving corruption and other problems on the holiday island.
Planet Phuket Project: Making Tuk-Tuks, Taxis Fair
Phuket MICE Verdict Looms, But Why the Rush?
Latest Cabinet will consider three plans for Phuket's 2.6 billion baht MICE centre on Tuesday even though some of the spokespeople for the projects clearly don't know the local parks and beaches.
Phuket MICE Verdict Looms, But Why the Rush?
Phuket's Best Autos: Who Let the Donks Out?
Marqued Men Phuket's penchant for expensive vehicles is soon to reach a new high with the arrival of a Rolls Royce to complement existing marques at a new auto showroom.
Phuket's Best Autos: Who Let the Donks Out?
"No action is being taken against the tour bus company that employed Khun Nuan for three months, but could not produce a copy of his driving licence.'
Maybe if the tour companies were made more accountable for the people they employed and documented them properly the number of accidents of this nature might decrease. Seeing the behaviour of mini bus and limo drivers every day one wonders how many of them HAVE valid licences - judging by their driving standards not a lot!! OK the mere production of a licence doesn't make a better driver but at least they are more accountable (and in theory traceable).
Posted by Mister Ree on March 22, 2011 10:58