Huge increase in injuries over the holidays

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PHO) has reported that 397 people were injured in auto and motorcycle accidents, and three were killed in motorcycle accidents over the four-day holiday period. The number of injuries rose 52% from the same period last year, when 261 were injured, but the death toll is down from the nine reported last year. Of the three who died, two were Thai and one was a foreigner, whose name and nationality has not been released. Over the same period, the Public Health Ministry reports that 349 died and 21,925 were injured in auto accidents in Thailand. There was also a large number of injuries during the holidays resulting from other accidents, including knife wounds and dog bites. The PHO says that 282 were injured and three were killed in non-vehicular accidents in Phuket. The death toll includes one foreigner who drowned on Friday.