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The vendor's stall on wheels that the motorcycle clipped from behind

One Tourist Dead, One Injured in Phuket Motorcycle Horror Pileup

Saturday, February 25, 2012
UPDATE

Although distressed after learning of his girlfriend's death, the Australian man discharged himself from Vachira Phuket Hospital this afternoon.

Original Report

PHUKET: An Australian woman died and her boyfriend was being treated in hospital after a motorcycle crash early today in southern Phuket in which two Thais were also injured, one seriously.

The tourists were descending Patak Road, the Karon Hill road, towards Chalong Circle when their motorcycle clipped a motorcycle-and-sidecar stall as the vendor was setting up shop in darkness about 3.30am today.

The tourists then veered across the road into incoming traffic where they collided with a motorcycle going up the hill, police said.

At this stage, officers have not been able to determine which of the tourists was steering the motorcycle, and which was riding pilion.

Charity foundation workers at the scene who took both the injured man and the Australian woman to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City noted a strong smell of alcohol and said the woman was not wearing a safety helmet.

The man seriously injured while riding the other motorcycle, Siriwat Patkor, is now being treated in Phuket International Hospital.

Vendor Kewadee Jailak was treated at Vachira Phuket and allowed to leave, but told the nurses she did not have money to pay the 2000 baht bill.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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I hope one day we have proper public transport and daily checks for DUI islandwide.

If both things are implemented at the same time, I bet you accident rates are easily cut by 50% or more.

I would imagine officials are racing to see who gets the honors for making such a significant improvement in traffic safety on Phuket.

Posted by Steve C. on February 25, 2012 12:25

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Any idea why the tourists are sent to the Vachira hospital but the Thais to the International hospital?

Posted by Jimmy on February 25, 2012 13:47

Editor Comment:

It could be, Jimmy, that the Thai man had insurance while the tourists did not. These things are always about transporting injured to the nearest hospital, then perhaps transferring them later. Vachira's morgue is where most bodies are taken too so, tragically, that may have been an added reason.

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The vendor was setting up a stall in the road in the middle of the night!! He seems very eager. Is it Legal to not have any lights on if stopped in the road. Perhaps he was not actually setting up his small business, but doing something else. Sad for the Family of the Deceased.

Posted by Gregg Cornell on February 25, 2012 15:13

Editor Comment:

The vendor was a woman.

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most of these vendors which are actually ilegal (no sidecars) dont have proper lights should not they be made legal and then have proper lighting

Posted by michael on February 25, 2012 15:51

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Wear a helmut, and don't drink and drive. sad story that could have ended happpier maybe. also these sidecar things should be banned most of them have insufficient lighting and on a dark road this means trouble!!

Posted by poppops on February 25, 2012 16:41

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Can Phuketwan please follow up on this and if any charges of manslaughter are made against the owner/operator of the illegal Salang. At the minimum they should be responsible for the repatriation of the body back to Australia, all the medical expenses of the husband and any other expenses that may come from the resulting accident with the innocent rider who was hit coming the other way and has now been treated at the International Hospital.

Posted by Jimmy on February 25, 2012 19:43

Editor Comment:

I think you must have been on the spot to make such precise judgements about responsibility. It's a tragedy for all concerned. Does it need Judge Jimmy? Only you seem to think so.

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Until the already in place laws and rules are enforced....What needs changing is the police inaction, and only more funding and a mandate from Bangkok will change that. Seems the travel advisories should focus on the real dangers of traveling in a country with little respect for traffic safety.

Posted by Media Watcher on February 26, 2012 08:21


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