Boy driver dies in smash

KOH KAEW: A 12-year-old boy died when he crashed his motorcycle while overtaking a car on a curved section of Thepkrasattri Rd on Tuesday.

Pol Lt Apichart Rainchana of Phuket Police Station identified the boy as Adisak Det-aran, a student at Baan Sapam Mongkol Wittaya School. He was still in his student uniform when police arrived at the accident scene, about 4:30 pm.

The first-year high-school student was returning north to his home in Tambon Srisoonthorn from Phuket City, Lt Apichart said.

Riding his parents’ black Honda Wave at high speed and without a helmet, Adisak tried to overtake a car on the left, Lt Apichart explained.

Misjudging the distance, he grazed the side of the car and lost control of the bike, which smashed into a guard rail and then plummeted about 10 meters into a roadside ravine, where a sharp stick punctured his lung, he said.

Young Adisak was dead by the time witnesses were able to get to his body, which was later recovered by rescue workers form the Kusoldharm Foundation and taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Adisak’s home room teacher, Sangsuthin Krueasane, told the Gazette that Adisak was a friendly boy and a diligent student.

“This is terrible news for us. I talked with the students this morning and told them that Adisak’s death should be an example for them. Adisak had only started riding his parents’ motorbike to school a few days before,” K. Sangsuthin said.

“Our teachers meet with parents at the beginning of every term and ask them not to let underage children ride motorcycles to school,” she added.

Thais can apply for a motorcycle driving license from the age of 15.

Adisak’s family have claimed his body to prepare for funeral rites.