PHUKET: Patcharin Iammai remembers the crash that sent her flying from the motorcycle, along with her German husband, a Lufthansa engineer.
It was in Patak Road, Karon, after 11pm on Thursday. They had ridden down the road to a 7-Eleven and were returning home after buying a snack.
''The road was clear and we were struck from behind,'' she said from her bed at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
''The wheel of the car crossed my stomach. My husband was stuck under the left wheel. The driver tried to keep going, and ran the car, with the accellerator revving, back and forth against my husband.
''He was too big a man so she couldn't get the car over him. Other people surrounded the car. I remember a tuk-tuk driver hammering on the window, telling the driver 'Stop! Stop! There's a man under your car!.''
Andreas Walter, 47, from Frankfurt, was considered to be the most severely injured so an ambulance sped him to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where the emergency ward has plenty of expertise in treating severe motorcycle crash victims.
Thailand's roads rank among the worst in the world for injuries and deaths, and Phuket is no safer, despite having a large number of expat residents.
Badly injured herself, Khun Patcharin - better known as ''Tan'' - was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
The following day, friends tried to keep her cheerful and doctors didn't want her told that her husband had died that morning. But she knew.
Talking wistfully to Phuketwan, today, her deepest regret is never having the chance to say goodbye, to say ''I love you'' one more time.
An engineer as well as being the owner of the Elephant Cafe by Tan in Karon, Khun Tan wants to accompany her husband's body back to Germany just as soon as she is well enough to travel.
She wants to tell his relatives in Germany what happened, in person.
For Khun Tan, one of the lasting memories is that she and Andreas were planning a family. After 10 years of catching up two or three times a year, settling down together was their new priority.
So far, she has yet to be interviewed by an officer from Karon Police Station. Her family has been told the woman driver, aged 42, was not breath-tested for drugs or alcohol.
Lieutenant Nipon Temsang told Phuketwan that the driver has been charged with dangerous driving. Other charges could be laid as the investigation proceeds.
It was in Patak Road, Karon, after 11pm on Thursday. They had ridden down the road to a 7-Eleven and were returning home after buying a snack.
''The road was clear and we were struck from behind,'' she said from her bed at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
''The wheel of the car crossed my stomach. My husband was stuck under the left wheel. The driver tried to keep going, and ran the car, with the accellerator revving, back and forth against my husband.
''He was too big a man so she couldn't get the car over him. Other people surrounded the car. I remember a tuk-tuk driver hammering on the window, telling the driver 'Stop! Stop! There's a man under your car!.''
Andreas Walter, 47, from Frankfurt, was considered to be the most severely injured so an ambulance sped him to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where the emergency ward has plenty of expertise in treating severe motorcycle crash victims.
Thailand's roads rank among the worst in the world for injuries and deaths, and Phuket is no safer, despite having a large number of expat residents.
Badly injured herself, Khun Patcharin - better known as ''Tan'' - was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
The following day, friends tried to keep her cheerful and doctors didn't want her told that her husband had died that morning. But she knew.
Talking wistfully to Phuketwan, today, her deepest regret is never having the chance to say goodbye, to say ''I love you'' one more time.
An engineer as well as being the owner of the Elephant Cafe by Tan in Karon, Khun Tan wants to accompany her husband's body back to Germany just as soon as she is well enough to travel.
She wants to tell his relatives in Germany what happened, in person.
For Khun Tan, one of the lasting memories is that she and Andreas were planning a family. After 10 years of catching up two or three times a year, settling down together was their new priority.
So far, she has yet to be interviewed by an officer from Karon Police Station. Her family has been told the woman driver, aged 42, was not breath-tested for drugs or alcohol.
Lieutenant Nipon Temsang told Phuketwan that the driver has been charged with dangerous driving. Other charges could be laid as the investigation proceeds.
Rest in peace, Andy!
Posted by herbert on December 7, 2015 19:04