Phuket student injured after tree falls into morning traffic

PHUKET: A large tree crashed into Phuket Town traffic this morning, leaving a student with minor injuries.

Phuket City Police officers arrived at the scene, Komarabhat Road intersection near Phuket Wittayalai School, at about 11:15am and found a crushed white pick-up truck under the tree.

“I was waiting for traffic to move when I felt something slam my truck. I turned around and saw the tree across the bed of the truck,” said Kittichai Saikaow, 26.

“I got out and saw that a student had been hit by part of the tree and had minor injuries.”

The student, who police did not name, was transferred immediately to Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment, said Deputy Superintendent Wisut Krengjing of Phuket City Police.

“As soon as officers arrived at the scene, we notified the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket office so they could remove the tree from the road,” said Lt Col Wisut. “It took them less than 30 minutes, then everything was back to normal and traffic was running smoothly.”

— Athip Karndee