PHUKET: An unnamed sam laew motorcycle and sidecar rider has become the first person injured in a mishap in Phuket's first underground traffic tunnel.
It is believed the man was parked in a dark spot deep in the tunnel and, authorities suspect, foraging for useful discarded items when a truck clipped his three-wheeled vehicle about 2pm today.
The man could have also completed the first historic u-turn in the tunnel and have been about to perform a second u-turn when the truck struck.
The man's son, who would usually be riding pillion, was also in the tunnel, officials believe. His father, his place in the history books secure, was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment.
Two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles are forbidden from entering the underground but authorities have yet to put up signs emphasising the Dos and Donts.
A tourist bus broke down when it ran out of fuel in the tunnel last week. The driver was expected to face a charge. Passengers managed to escape the bus and the tunnel safely.
Highways Department officials say there will eventually be six security cameras operating in the tunnel's depth but the final connections have yet to be made to make the cameras operational.
An officer at Vichit Police Station said that motorcyclists could be fined 1000 baht for using the tunnel, rather than negotiating the Central Festival intersection above-ground.
A second underpass in due to be completed in October and officiallly opened in early 2016 just down the bypass road at the Tesco Lotus intersection.
The innovations are expected to speed north-south traffic between the main artery, Thepkasattri Road, and Chalong Circle in Phuket's south.
It is believed the man was parked in a dark spot deep in the tunnel and, authorities suspect, foraging for useful discarded items when a truck clipped his three-wheeled vehicle about 2pm today.
The man could have also completed the first historic u-turn in the tunnel and have been about to perform a second u-turn when the truck struck.
The man's son, who would usually be riding pillion, was also in the tunnel, officials believe. His father, his place in the history books secure, was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment.
Two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles are forbidden from entering the underground but authorities have yet to put up signs emphasising the Dos and Donts.
A tourist bus broke down when it ran out of fuel in the tunnel last week. The driver was expected to face a charge. Passengers managed to escape the bus and the tunnel safely.
Highways Department officials say there will eventually be six security cameras operating in the tunnel's depth but the final connections have yet to be made to make the cameras operational.
An officer at Vichit Police Station said that motorcyclists could be fined 1000 baht for using the tunnel, rather than negotiating the Central Festival intersection above-ground.
A second underpass in due to be completed in October and officiallly opened in early 2016 just down the bypass road at the Tesco Lotus intersection.
The innovations are expected to speed north-south traffic between the main artery, Thepkasattri Road, and Chalong Circle in Phuket's south.
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Posted by Hopelander on April 20, 2015 17:03