PHUKET: Two Chinese ending a holiday on Phuket were struck and killed last night by a hit-run driver who only stopped a kilometre down the road because a trapped body impeded the car's progress.
The nightmare began when Tanuwat Chamnit, 56, anxious to get back to Bangkok after a Songkran holiday in Chumpon province, sped through an orange flashing light at an intersection.
Crossing the road in front of his car were four Chinese, returning to their wayside stop hotel after a late supper around 11pm in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
The Chinese had finished a holiday on Phuket and then six of them hired a car to travel north to Hua Hin.
Police Superintendent Colonel Ampon Amornluchpreecha told Phuketwan: ''Police found a body that had been dragged down the road more than a kilometre.
''The car, with its windscreen shattered, was found at a repair shop. The driver faces very serious charges.''
Chang Ching, 26, a Chinese visitor from Yunnan province, said four of the party of six crossed the road to eat and as they were walking back, the car struck, killing his mother Shi Chang Wang, 48, and dragging his uncle, Chang Hong, to a horrible death.
The Chinese were among the last of the victims during the Seven Days of Danger in Thailand, a road safety campaign designed to try to reduce the high number of deaths and injuries that accompany the long Songkran New Year festival.
Phuket was one of a handful of provinces to escape without any fatalities. Surin was worst, with 16 deaths.
Last year on Phuket there was one death.
Nationwide, there were 364 deaths on the roads and 3559 people admitted to hospital for treatment.
On Phuket, there were 57 crashes recorded with 58 admitted to hospital.
Of 3908 people charged with offences, 1711 were for no helmet; 17 for dangerous driving; 230 for no seat belt; 485 for drunk driving; 1095 no licence; 213 for jumping red lights; 114 for proceeding in the wrong direction; six for overtaking dangerously and 37 for driving while talking on a mobile telephone.
The nightmare began when Tanuwat Chamnit, 56, anxious to get back to Bangkok after a Songkran holiday in Chumpon province, sped through an orange flashing light at an intersection.
Crossing the road in front of his car were four Chinese, returning to their wayside stop hotel after a late supper around 11pm in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
The Chinese had finished a holiday on Phuket and then six of them hired a car to travel north to Hua Hin.
Police Superintendent Colonel Ampon Amornluchpreecha told Phuketwan: ''Police found a body that had been dragged down the road more than a kilometre.
''The car, with its windscreen shattered, was found at a repair shop. The driver faces very serious charges.''
Chang Ching, 26, a Chinese visitor from Yunnan province, said four of the party of six crossed the road to eat and as they were walking back, the car struck, killing his mother Shi Chang Wang, 48, and dragging his uncle, Chang Hong, to a horrible death.
The Chinese were among the last of the victims during the Seven Days of Danger in Thailand, a road safety campaign designed to try to reduce the high number of deaths and injuries that accompany the long Songkran New Year festival.
Phuket was one of a handful of provinces to escape without any fatalities. Surin was worst, with 16 deaths.
Last year on Phuket there was one death.
Nationwide, there were 364 deaths on the roads and 3559 people admitted to hospital for treatment.
On Phuket, there were 57 crashes recorded with 58 admitted to hospital.
Of 3908 people charged with offences, 1711 were for no helmet; 17 for dangerous driving; 230 for no seat belt; 485 for drunk driving; 1095 no licence; 213 for jumping red lights; 114 for proceeding in the wrong direction; six for overtaking dangerously and 37 for driving while talking on a mobile telephone.
"1095 no licence!" It's the 25% of the people charged on Phuket. Unbelieveble! Can you think how many people are driving without licence nationwide?
Posted by james on April 16, 2015 13:44