German dies in bike crash

CHALONG: A popular German dive instructor died after his motorbike collided head-on with a pickup truck not far from the Green Man Pub & Restaurant on Patak Rd early Wednesday. Sascha Schleicher, 36, was declared dead on arrival at Phuket International Hospital. Police believe he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, about 7:30 am. Pol Capt Chana Sutthimas of Chalong Police Station told the Gazette that Mr Schleicher was riding his motorbike at speed toward Chalong. He was overtaking a pickup truck and another motorcycle simultaneously when the crash occurred. Mr Schleicher was a dive instructor with Aquarius Diving at the Phuket Arcadia Hotel and Resort. His body will be flown back to Germany for burial.