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Phuket Hospital Marketing Manager Killed in Power Pole Car Crash
By Prasit Tarnsirisin Thursday, November 13, 2014
PHUKET: The well-known international marketing manager of Phuket's largest private hospital was killed last night when her saloon car crashed into a power pole.
Nicha Chiwangkul, 46, business development and international marketing planner, had been in the role at Bangkok Hospital Phuket since January, 2013 after working at the hospital for five years.
Her Honda Civic wrapped around a pole near the Bangkoo intersection, where the bypass road meets Thepkasattri Road. Rescuers needed to use cutting equipment to free her.
Ms Nicha's body was taken to Vachia Phuket Hospital in Phuket City, said Captain Weerachart Srira, of Phuket City Police Station.
Local authorities have not released monthly updates on Phuket's road toll since April, 2012.
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Comments
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Very deep condolences to Khun Nicha's family, friends and staff at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. R I P Khun Nicha.
Posted by
Graham B
on
November 13, 2014 11:18
OMG, This wonderful lady taken way too soon. She was a great spokesperson for Phuket and Thailand moving forward. RIP Khun Nicha :(
Posted by
hotgem
on
November 13, 2014 11:50
Drove by last night just after it happened the ambulance wasn't there yet. The strange thing is that she was wrapped around the pole against traffic direction...
Posted by
Tom
on
November 13, 2014 12:15
Editor Comment:
Often the case with high impact, sadly.
Ed should the headline not be manageress, not manager.
Posted by
Duncan B
on
November 13, 2014 12:35
Editor Comment:
Not in the 21st century.
Ed that is a very MCP comment. So you have no manners nor respect. Just because you like asexual beings, I still believe in Manners maketh man.
Posted by
Duncan B
on
November 13, 2014 13:46
Editor Comment:
Far from it, Duncan B. Women are equal in every aspect of business and life and a wise man would recognise that fact. It might also be appropriate not to raise a relatively petty issue in the context of a tragedy.
These poles on Theokrassatri Rd. took so many lives of people who lived on Phuket for a long time, in no way they can be described as the ones who don't the road and in most cases those who are careless. Both foreigners and Thais.
Will these poles once be moved beyond a road surface, finally?
Posted by
Sue
on
November 13, 2014 17:25
"Manageress" is one of those ways language separates women and seeks to diminish their status. Agree with Editor, it is out of date.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
November 13, 2014 18:02
RIP and condoleances to family. How is it possible you crash into a power pole, causing your death? Was there something wrong with the steering equipment of her car? Will that high-technically be investigated? One just not get wrapped around a power pole just like that. Something must have been wrong or else.
Posted by
Kurt
on
November 13, 2014 18:05
K. Nicha was a lovely person who will be missed by her family, friends and colleagues. She managed a very difficult job while maintaining a friendly demeanor and always having time for friends. Recently, she had been working incredibly hard both at her job and at her education and it's a shame to see her life cut short just as she was coming out of such a tough stretch of hard work. Such great things ahead for her.
She's left some big shoes to fill, for certain.
Rest in peace, Nicha.
Posted by
Jen
on
November 13, 2014 18:12
@ Sue
As far as I know no pole has ever taken a life.
I am sure the Phuket poles are not more dangerous then any other pole in the world.
There must be another reason for the many crashes in which a Phuket post is involved.
I guess human error.
Posted by
Georg The Viking
on
November 13, 2014 19:01
I agree with you Sue, these poles need to be trained not to jump out in front of vehicles. If they can't be trained, send all careless ones back home to Poland and cancel the vaulting competition.
Posted by
Manowar
on
November 13, 2014 19:07
Before we jump to conclusions we don't know if its a single veh accident if someone did a U turn in front of her and decamped or what the story is, condolences such saddening news that this very bright light has been extinguished .
Posted by
slickmelb
on
November 13, 2014 22:52
@Georg The Viking
@Manowar
This is ad hoc selection just from PW, other media reported number of similar occasion when locals/long-term expat hit poles on Thekassatri rd. on the way to airport or back, and without apparently involved bad driving habits :
Vehicle truck a pole, 2 people dead + 1 in critical condition IndoChine establishments family
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-year-tragedy-expats-killed-aussie-critical-local-bus-hits-pole-13465/
Phuket Tour Van Driver Topples Power Pole in Crash
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-tour-van-driver-topples-power-pole-crash-19009/
Long-term Taiwan expat crashed into pole on the way to airport
So I guess number of these poles are misplaced and are on a road surface edge, that is where they should not be under any circumstances.
I haven't seen these particular poles with my own eyes, but I've seen similar on Samui and in Satun province, where road has been widened, but poles left where they were put initially - on what appears to be roadway after upgrade.
Posted by
Sue
on
November 14, 2014 00:04
"As far as I know no pole has ever taken a life."
Georg, Some Poles do in fact commit murder. Remember the WARSAW GHETTO? A Pole is from Poland of course, but oddly enough, a Hole isn't from Holland - but perhaps from some other low-land country..
It's a slow day in paradise
Posted by
farang888
on
November 14, 2014 05:15
Vivacious, outgoing, fantastic at her job K. Nicha had a large impact on the growth of BHI and made a real positive impact on the community in many ways. This was a person who actually contributed to the community by action rather than keyboard commentary and regardless of the circumstances of her unfortunate passing will be missed by many. Simply said she helped make Phuket a better place.
It is shameful that so many on this site feel the need to speculate, lecture and mock the tragedy of others. The news of someone's passing is not the place for it, loved one's, friends, etc read these comments. Allow them and those who have passed some respect and dignity. K. Nicha deserves better.
Having worked with her for many years I am stunned by this shocking and horrible news. What a loss for Phuket.
Posted by
martin
on
November 14, 2014 09:05
Editor Comment:
Thanks, martin. We share your sentiments. So many people still fail to think before they comment.
Sue,
Just how many of these poles moved in front of vehicles prior to the collision. I assume they were in the same locations for months, even years prior and remained so even with approaching cars.
While I agree some are poorly positioned just how far do you go with trees, buildings and other structures. Many times a pole has been hit by a vehicle and saved the lives of pedestrians which otherwise were just innocent bystanders.
Posted by
Manowar
on
November 14, 2014 09:16
Many countries have these wonderful avenues with old gnarled trees right and left.
It is a sad fact, that many cars indeed
crash into them.
But no one comes up with the idea to cut down all the trees for this reason, I hope so.
You have to adapt your driving style to the circumstances. Stay on the road, that's it.
Does not protect from accidents I know and I'm really sorry for the young woman.
But the solution can not be to remove all the poles according to car crashs.
They are an eyesore, this is the only reason.
Posted by
Georg The Viking
on
November 14, 2014 09:22
martin
The relatives probably didn't learn about this accident from this news article here on PW. Also I didn't see you come on here acting all indignant when a truck driver or pick up end up wrapping around a pole, and people comment about the simply terrible driving standards here. Reckless driving is everywhere here, even among vivacious women in high positions.
Posted by
christian
on
November 14, 2014 09:52
Sue
The reason Thailand has 24,000 deaths per year because of accidents are not "misplaced power poles" but because of reckless driving, speeding, drunk driving and general lack of respect of rules/lawlesness.
Posted by
christian
on
November 14, 2014 10:21
Christian.
Very deep condolences to Khun Nicha's family
But quite right Christian one should always adapts speed after the way and weather conditions, and if you don`t know the road in (Phuket) so take it easy.
And to many people here in Thailand using cell phones when they driving car and motorbike, and then you lose control of the car completely, every learn that in Europe when the take driving license Car /Motorbike.
Posted by
Bjorn Ronnnigen
on
November 14, 2014 22:28
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Very deep condolences to Khun Nicha's family, friends and staff at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. R I P Khun Nicha.
Posted by Graham B on November 13, 2014 11:18