A YOUNG Phuket volunteer today became a victim of a car crash. Former charity foundation workmates had to help to free his body from a high-speed wreck.

The death of Worarak Singbamrung, 24, came as Phuket police appeared to be winning a campaign to reduce the road toll - and it happened less than 24 hours after another motorist had a charmed escape from a similar wet-weather slide from a doused road surface elsewhere on Phuket.

The young man's vehicle became wrapped around a pole near the corner of the soi that is the home to the Phuket Ruamjai Kupai Foundation, where Khun Worarak worked as an unpaid volunteer in his spare time.

Police believe that Khun Worarak may have been late for an appointment at the foundation when he misjudged the turnoff from Chao Fa Road West in Vichit, south of Phuket City, to Soi Taead in wet conditions about 1.30am.

Such was the speed of the impact that it took rescuers two hours to cut Khun Worarak's body free from the bent vehicle. The young man lived in Patong with his family and drove a taxi there.

Although 28 people died on Phuket's roads in August and September last year, police believe they are gradually winning the battle to warn teenagers and young men especially about the dangers of speeding on Phuket.

The Phuket Ruamjai Kupai Foundation shares with the Kusoldharm Foundation the grim task of rescuing the injured and recovering the dead from Phuket's road crashes.

Phuketwan supports Mothers or Motorcycles (MoM) a Phuket road safety action group that aims to reduce the toll and promote safety awareness, especially the need for helmets when riding motorcycles.