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Phuket Tuk-Tuk, Motorcycle Crash Kills Rider on Patong to Karon Road
By Sert Tongdee Thursday, November 1, 2012
PHUKET: A motorcycle rider was killed and a tuk-tuk driver seriously injured in a collision at high speed on a curve between Patong and Karon on Phuket's holiday west coast early today.
The motorcycle rider, Alom Elliot Pook, 20, died on the spot of a broken neck and other high-impact injuries.
Rescue workers took 20 minutes to free the tuk-tuk driver from his cabin. Passersby had to help to lift the tuk-tuk so that paramedics could reach the motorcyclist, in a roadside ditch.
Kusoldharm Foundation officers were called out at 1.50am to a notorious curve near the entrance to the Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort.
Police believe the motorcyclist, riding from Patong to Karon, crossed to the wrong side of the road and into the path of the tuk-tuk as it headed for Patong.
The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet.
The spectacular crash comes as Phuket police and safety groups plan a renewal of Phuket's ''100 percent helmet'' campaign.
Public Health officials on Phuket have not released monthly updates on Phuket's road toll since April, when the total number of dead and injured were both trending down.
Deaths have been cut to an average of about 12 a month. A few years ago, the annual toll topped 200 but it was just 36 to May this year.
Police and officials have been obliterating black spot hazards and adding safety markers and better signage for about two years.
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Comments
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I wonder what speed the tuk tuk was doing, clearly damage is to the front right of his vehicle, but why is he on the wrong side of the road, check the lights on vehicles using the road.
Posted by
dbate_me
on
November 1, 2012 10:11
Editor Comment:
The motorcycle cross the road and was on the wrong side, according to police. Please refrain from guessing.
RIP to the fallen. Crossing the center line is like a national past time here. Blind corners, oncoming traffic it doesn't seem to matter. It's nice to see the new lane lines in and around Patong, now just stay in your lane unless it's safe to pass.
Posted by
Jon
on
November 1, 2012 10:29
I am riding this way almost every day. TukTuks coming from Karon tend to "cut the curve" all times and most of them are rushing their tin-cans beyond the abilities of their antique suspension. The probability of a motorcyclist getting on the outside lane in a corner is not very high, because it contradicts the principles of driving on two wheels.
Anyway, there is no excuse for driving without wearing a proper helmet.
Posted by
Fritz Pinguin
on
November 1, 2012 10:36
@ED..NOT guessing, just look at the photo, the proof is clearly there, or are you suggesting the photo, you provided, is wrong?
@Jon...have you even known thais to stayin their lane, at times I admit it is impossible, some lanes narrow to less than half a cars width, but generally, lane makings are the same as speed limits, ignored.
Posted by
dbate_me
on
November 1, 2012 10:39
Editor Comment:
It's not unusual for the impact from a crash to turn a vehicle 180 degrees. No knowing for sure, unless you were there.
Just one more tragedy: One thing I have grown to dislike is campaign after campaign. Remember not so long back when Phuket passed Bangkok as the number one place riders were using helmets. One thing I have learned many times in life change comes from a slow continues NON STOP process that keeps building onto itself not one that drops everything for short term results that may or may not get an award, but then has to restart all over again after a few month when things fall back to the way they were.
Posted by
mike
on
November 1, 2012 11:41
The amount of accidents even by Phuket standards are out of control. That stretch has a very trick set of bumps, uneven road surface coupled with poor lighting and a steep hill. Not specific to this accident but there is no enforcement at all of speed limits, alcohol etc, except the fines for not carrying a license which are rarely if ever followed through by the production of the license and a fine for not wearing a helmet which I agree with and is good, but should be 1000B. I do not want to ruin anyone's fun but the tourists considering their next holiday are not that stupid with the advent of the internet. How many tourist dollars are lost by readers avoiding Phuket when they read about the deaths which are every few days.
Posted by
Happy Farang
on
November 1, 2012 12:12
I live on this curve and I've lost count how many times I have had to call ambulances and give first aid due to the almost daily accidents that occur here, from 'hitting the trenches' like todays minor accident or like last nights fatal smash.I arrived home just after last nights accident, a horrible sight as you can imagine.
What happened to the red flashing light on the police box at the exact location of last night accident? It worked for maybe a month last year and as far as I recall there was not a single accident at night while it was working. Something so simple that could have prevented last nights mess.
Red Light!
Posted by
Red Light
on
November 1, 2012 14:24
@ED..Please, a tuk tuk going 180 degrees would have flipped, it is a high centre or gravity, not a low one as per a car and still doesn't explain why he ended up near the curb, unless he drove, with the motorbike and its driver under it, to the curb.
Posted by
dbate_me
on
November 1, 2012 15:45
Editor Comment:
if i were you, i'd accept this was a needless death and let people who know what they are doing pursue the matter. Don't bother with more guesses.
Ed, why has my post not been posted?
Posted by
Happy Farang
on
November 1, 2012 16:56
Editor Comment:
Perhaps because we haven't had time, or you've said something contentious, or you're treating us like a 'Help desk.' Possibly all three.
dbate_me,,, I think you are a idiot,,the bike rider was going fast and has come around the bend crossed over to the other side of the road and hit the tuk tuk head on,,now the tuk tuk would have been doing about 80,,and the bike about 60 to 70,,so an impact is about 140,,so i would say the little tuk tuk would have moved over to the curb don't you think,, I guess you have never been in a crash before,,,
Posted by
sean
on
November 1, 2012 21:45
@Sean, you accuse me of being an idiot, ok, but at least I go by the "evidence" of the photo, you only guess as to the speeds, you also forget that the tuk tuk is a much large mass than the motorbike, you are also suggesting the tuk tuk driver drove to the curb, on the opposite side of the road, with the motorbike AND its driver under his tuk tuk, get a grip of yourself..oh, maybe that is the problem, you do have a grip of yourself.
Posted by
dbate_me
on
November 2, 2012 08:39
Editor Comment:
Guesswork, guesswork. Such a waste of energy and passion.
@ED..perhaps your "reporter", Sert Tongdee< would like to respond as well as thr photographer, as these two should know what happened, or did they fail to ask these questions, poor reporting often leads to guess work by readers, and example isonly yesterday, there was a report of a 3 year old drowning, his grandfather dragging him from the sea and taking him to the lifeguard, for held, today it was both the young boy AND the grandfather drowning.
Posted by
dbate_me
on
November 2, 2012 10:06
Editor Comment:
Phuketwan is not your personal help desk, dbate_me, although you clearly need plenty. Guesswork, more guesswork, and lame put-downs seem to be all you're good for. And now we're even to blame for your poor reading skills and lack of judgement. Go away, please.
Rest in peace Lomy. We'll all be thinking of you and hopefully you're up there with Craig, Anurak and Kain.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 2, 2012 15:44
I have just learned that I have met the deceased in this accident. He is the friend of a couple of friends of mine.
Posted by
NomadJoe
on
November 4, 2012 18:50
All you 'commenters' are pathetic, arguing amongst yourselves. A beautiful young friend of mine was tragically killed and has been put to rest today. We will never know what happened or why. It certainly isn't fair. Lomy was one of the nicest people I've met. You guys have obviously too much time on your hands. Why don't you get out there and do something to help instead of moan and guess??? RIP my beautiful angel xxx
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 6, 2012 16:31
The idea of a 100 percent hlemet law in Phuket is a complete joke. I live in Thalang and just lauch every morning as the dozens of scooter drivers without helmets sit at the traffic light at 402 right next to the traffic police hut. I have never even seen the cop speak to one of the riders...unless of course its a farang then its time to get your wallet out!
Posted by
David
on
November 6, 2012 18:53
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I wonder what speed the tuk tuk was doing, clearly damage is to the front right of his vehicle, but why is he on the wrong side of the road, check the lights on vehicles using the road.
Posted by dbate_me on November 1, 2012 10:11
Editor Comment:
The motorcycle cross the road and was on the wrong side, according to police. Please refrain from guessing.