No seat belts worn, but no fatalities after van flips twice
PHUKET: Six relatives, including three children, escaped serious injury when the van they were in flipped twice before coming to rest on Thepkrasattri Road in Mai Khao yesterday afternoon.
None of the adults or three children, aged 8 to 11, was wearing a seat belt when the van slid on the rain-slippery road and hit the median at a curve in Baan Mak Prok.
The vehicle flipped twice and came to rest upright in the northbound lane.
Staff at Thalang Hospital confirmed that none of the passengers suffered serious injuries.
“Six of them were brought to us with minor injuries. Four were released yesterday, but two of the adults asked to stay overnight in hospital. We sent them to Mission Hospital today for a more detailed checkup as a precaution,” one hospital staffer told the Phuket Gazette.
When police and rescue workers arrived at the scene shortly after 3:30pm, the family was sitting by the side of the road.
Some had abrasions, others back pain and some had head injuries, a rescue worker told the Gazette.
The driver, Chaiyut Nanakorn, 54, told police the family was on their way home after visiting relatives Krabi.
“He said it was raining and the road was very slippery,” said Tah Chat Chai Police officer Prakob Boonkwan.
“He said he lost control of the van and it flipped twice.
“We took photos of the crash scene and will question him further,” Col Prakob said.
— Thawit Bilabdullar
