Briton killed in Phuket bike crash

CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: A successful British advertising director was killed when his motorbike smashed into a six-wheel truck in Cherng Talay in Phuket this afternoon.

Wayne David Maule, 56, was riding a Honda Click down Srisoonthorn Road towards Surin when the tragedy happened at about 1:15pm.

The truck driver said Mr Maule veered into his truck from the opposite lane near the Plaza Surin shopping center.

“I’m not sure whether he was drunk or fell asleep,” he said.

“As soon as he came towards my truck, I was terrified and broke immediately.”

The driver said that when he got out of his truck, Mr Maule’s bike was caught in the back wheels.

Mr Maule’s body was lying on the road behind.

“I knew he was dead,” he said. “I couldn’t bring myself to look at the body, I was so scared.”

A police investigation into the cause of the accident continues.

Mr Maule is understood to have retired to Phuket, following a successful career directing advertising.

In recent years Mr Maule, who had made his home in Australia, had produced commercials for brands including Lexus, Surf and Qantas.

— Gazette Reporters