One killed, one hurt in head-on collision

KARON: A Thai woman was killed and a Danish tourist hospitalized when their motorcycle was hit by a car on the Karon sea front yesterday. Police said that Chutima Katekae, 21, on the back of the bike, and the driver, named by Phuket International Hospital as Walther Marc, were riding toward Karon from Kata in the early hours of the morning when they collided head-on with a black Honda Accord. The pair were taken to Wachira Hospital in Phuket Town where K. Chutima died seven hours later from loss of blood. Mr Marc, suffering hand and foot injuries, was transferred to Phuket International Hospital where he is said to be making a good recovery. The driver of the car, Akom Saetae, 24, was later arrested and charged with reckless driving causing injury and death. He was also charged with fleeing the scene of an accident, said Pol Lt Teerawat Liumsuwan, deputy inspector of Chalong Police Station. Akom is now in police custody in Chalong.