Phuket sinkhole accident victim, Molly, 7, dies

PHUKET: Molly Anne Bailey, the 7-year-old girl who was critically injured when the pick-up truck she was travelling in plunged into a sinkhole in central Phuket last week, has died.

“Her parents decided to let Molly go by taking her off her life-support on Saturday night after doctors said she had no chance of recovering,” Lt Col Yongyuth Kongmala of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette.

Molly was rushed to hospital unconscious with her mother, Pakkamon Doungchayatemjarat, 38, last Thursday night after the pick-up truck Ms Pakkamon was driving crashed into a sinkhole crater that cut across a rural road in Srisoonthorn.

Ms Pakkamon broke her left arm in the accident and was soon discharged from hospital care.

Molly, however, remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit (story here).

Molly’s body arrived at Baan Manik temple at about 1:30pm yesterday, where her family and many of her friends were waiting in deep grief.

Also present was Srisoonthorn Mayor Worrawut Songyot.

“This is a very sad accident,” said Col Yongyuth.

“Barriers have been placed in front of the sinkhole to prevent another accident from occurring. Meanwhile, we will follow up with Srisoonthorn Municipality to make sure the road is fixed as soon as possible.”

The sinkhole first started to form last month when heavy rains washed away part of Rural Road 4008 off Thepkrasattri Road, near Bang Jo Prison (story here).

— Thawit Bilabdullar