After Phuket New Year celebrations, man dodges Seven Days fatality list

PHUKET: A man walked away from a dramatic accident at Heroines Monument early this morning, leaving Phuket’s death toll during this year’s Seven Days of Danger safety campaign for the New Year at just one fatality.

Police promptly arrived at the iconic roundabout in central Phuket at about 3:30am after Jamnian Sinthong, 55, called to report that a white Toyota Yaris had just mounted the curb and wiped out part of a pedestrian guard rail outside his front door.

The car had come to a crunching halt against a power pole and public phone kiosk.

The driver, Senee Thongloy, 40, told police that he was on his way home to Phattalung after celebrating the New Year in Phuket with friends.

“I was tired. I fell asleep and hit the rail, before landing on the sidewalk,” he said.

Mr Senee, awakened by the rough landing, opened the door and let himself out of the vehicle.

“I am thankful that I am safe and well. I will take care of all the damage,” he said, noting that he had suffered only minor bruises.

Lt Col Sanit Nukong of the Thalang Police confirmed that Mr Senee tested negative for alcohol, but would still be charged with reckless driving causing damage to public and private property.

Anoma Muangpanij, 20, remains the sole fatality so far in this year’s Seven Days campaign for the new year (story here).

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office reported 25 accidents since the campaign began at midnight on Monday.

The first 24 hours saw zero deaths, but eight people hospitalized for injuries (story here).

Ms Anoma died within the second 24 hours, which also saw 10 people hospitalized for injuries sustained in 10 accidents. Among the injured was two-year-old Pimchada Sripimlam, who was later pronounced safe to go home and discharged from Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town yesterday.

Day 3 of the campaign saw seven people injured in seven accidents, starting with Attakorn Limsakul, 24, falling from his motorcycle at 2:09am yesterday. He was taken to Vachira Hospital for treatment.

A man yet to be identified fell from his motorcycle in Patong at 3:15am and was taken to Vachira Hospital. An hour later, Paitoon Promchai, 25, joined him after his motorcycle collided with another in Phuket Town.

Anita Sae-Tang, 44, was taken to Patong Hospital after her motorcycle accident on Phang Muang Sai Kor Road at 3:48pm, while Thanaphan Tiangtrakul, 16, taken to Vachira Hospital after he fell off his motorcycle in the dark in Baan Bangjo at 6:45pm.

Thanate Thinlipon, 45, fell of his motorcycle in Thalang and taken to Phuket International Hospital at 9:43pm, before Phakphum Thanakhun, 17, became the last motorcycle accident victim of the day. He was taken to Vachira Hospital after injuring himself in a fall from his motorcycle in Phuket Town at about 11:50pm.

The Seven Days of Danger campaign continues today, and will draw to a close at 12pm on Monday.

— Thawit Bilabdullar