UPDATE: Warning, Distressing Photo Album Above
THE Big Buddha collision toll has risen to six confirmed deaths, with 14 reported to be in serious condition in Phuket City's Vachira Hospital Phuket.
Original Report
TWO people were killed on Phuket's notorious Big Buddha road today when a pickup carrying Burmese collided with a Siam Safari tourist bus outside an elephant park.
Early reports say the dead were Burmese, and that more that 20 others were injured, some seriously.
The crash came at the same spot on Nakkerd Hill where an Australian man was killed on his honeymoon and eight other Australian tourists were injured in a single-vehicle crash last year.
Australians were also on board the tour vehicle in today's fatal collision at 11.23am. The deaths lift the toll for the Songkran ''seven days of danger'' to more than double what officials were hoping would be the maximum.
Today's crash is also likely to ignite more intense debate about the safety of the deadly elephant park corner, a sharp bend on a steep road, and where tethered elephants are a distraction to drivers.
The deaths of the Burmese on Phuket follow the horrific killing of 16 Burmese in a crash on April 4 in which another 50 victims from an overloaded truck in Samut Sakhon were injured. That crash brought calls for stricter enforcement of safety laws.
The death of honeymooning Australian Michael Malonzo, 26, on the same Phuket bend in January 2010 triggered a review of safety on the Big Buddha road.
However, although there are now more warning signs, nothing has been done about the steep slope or the distractions of the elephants on the tricky bend.
Siam Safari, whose vehicles were involved in both Phuket crashes, is one of a number of businesses that have grown along the road as the Big Buddha attracts more visitors.
It is believed the Burmese were descending from the top of the 380-metre hill today after observing a Buddhist ceremony for Songkran.
Distressing Photos A little girl and four others are dead after a collision at a bend that authorities knew was capable of killing. But they did little to fix the problem.
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And nobody raise any questions about carrying up to 70 persons on the back of a lorry... People packed like sardines on a flatbed are likely to be victims if / when an accident happens. Also, Siam Safari has been involved in some accidents lately. How safe are their drivers and safety procedures over all? Heard from many scared passengers to Khao Sok that the tour was a crazy minibus race.
Posted by Hockey on April 17, 2011 12:03