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Flipped by a buffalo: crash scene in Phuket's bypass road  today

Phuket Taxi, Cars in Triple Bypass Buffalo Crash: Hunt for Dead Buffalo's Owner

Sunday, July 21, 2013
PHUKET: A pregnant water buffalo wandering on Phuket City's busy bypass road was killed as it caused a taxi and two cars to crash early today.

A police investigation is underway to determine the owner of the stray buffalo, with initial suspicion falling on a nearby Thai cultural theme park.

The first vehicle, an illegal taxi carrying a German passenger from Phuket International Airport via Phuket City to Patong, crashed into the buffalo about 1.10am.

The German passenger was not injured and the fare is unknown.

With the buffalo dead or injured in the bypass road, a second vehicle crashed into the creature and flipped.

A third car then clipped the buffalo, shunting the animal into the central median ditch, preventing further crashes.

Two of the drivers required treatment for injuries. One was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket and the other to Phuket International Hospital.

Liability rests with the owner of the wandering buffalo. Phuket City police are continuing their inquiries.

The number of buffaloes left on Phuket is being reduced rapidly as the island rapidly becomes urbanised.

There was a time before motorised vehicles took over when buffaloes roamed free on Phuket.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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Why are buffalo owners not forced to register the animals. And then tag them ( the buffaloes ) with ear tags with a barcode. That way, there would not be any doubt to find the owner. Jenny touch in the article : " The German passenger was not injured and the fare is unknown". Made me smile.

Posted by Charles on July 21, 2013 08:54

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We have seen this type of accident before, I expect the same outcome, no owner will come forward. As for "motorised vehicles" and buffalo, many drivers should still be on buffalo, it usually has a lot more common-sense.

Posted by Phuket_IOC on July 21, 2013 08:57

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@ Charles same way illegal taxis dont register, unregistered taxi should pay all compensation seems the buffs dont like taxis either

Posted by slickmelb on July 21, 2013 09:45

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A memorial BBQ will be held this afternoon

Posted by Pozz59 on July 21, 2013 10:45

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What I liked best then, can you remember, the skies were not cloudy all day. And never a discouraging word, no reader and editor comments in Phuketwan.

Posted by juswunderin on July 21, 2013 11:20

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Poor old buffalo and unborn baby....makes me sad when animals are killed...

Please tell me the relevance of this line in the report.

"The German passenger was not injured and the fare is unknown".

So what if the fare is known?

Please don't berate me ED as i'm only curious...

Posted by sateeb on July 21, 2013 13:48

Editor Comment:

Taxi drivers often double the fares on late night-early morning trips from the airport.

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Ed, why has my comment not been published.

Posted by Fiesty Farang on July 21, 2013 18:05

Editor Comment:

Guesswork is not acceptable.

''Maybe the driver asked for more money as the journey was taking longer than normal and also more money to pay for his car as if he didn't have the German passenger he would not have had the accident.''

Maybe. And maybe that's a total invention by you. We'd much prefer added information, based on fact. Opinions and guesswork add no value whatsoever.

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I hope that the german passenger have " pover in mind " to resist any demands of compensation from the driver and police. Guesswork, in this case, can change to show the truth of coming events. I write these comments keeping in mind and hoping, that phuket also belong still , to the " land of smiles ". Buffalo ! RIP.

Posted by Peter on July 21, 2013 22:15

Editor Comment:

Only a reader has suggested that might occur, and your return to that guesswork is the reason why we were reluctant to publish the original bit of guesswork. And yet here you are, pretending guesswork is real.

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We should limit taxis and transport operators vehicles to 80Km.

last night I travelled a long the same stretch of road at 2130hrs coming back from the airport during a severe storm. The road was well lit and although there was significant traffic I could see the road clearly ahead.

2 things immediately spring to mind here, firstly the taxi driver at 1am would have had little traffic to contend with. He was obviously driving at excessive speed,and secondly did not have the reflexes to steer passed this unfortunate creature.

The witch hunt should start with the driver. We should limit customer service Vehicles taxis ,mini vans to 80KM I mean with a limiter fitted and checked before they get their insurance.

This is a tragedy, next time it will be people and the death of the passenger. So far nothing in the comments about the speed of the driver. He would have 3 lanes to avoid the buffalo I would suggest if traveling at responsible speed could have avoided this accident. The blame is he hit the buffalo not the other way around !

Posted by Robin Too on July 23, 2013 08:14

Editor Comment:

Complete guesswork, Robin Too. It's quite likely the driver was travelling at a reasonable speed and simply could not avoid the buffalo. There are no other comments about the speed of the vehicle because nobody else is prepared to speculate without knowing the facts. We are not really into ''witchhunts.''


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