Phuket woman with Alzheimer’s killed in hit-and-run

PHUKET: A woman with Alzheimer’s Disease who had wandered away from home was killed in a hit-and-run motorbike accident in Thalang last night.

Pranit Parteep Na Talang, 75, first went missing from her home in Ban Don at about 2pm that afternoon.

“My mother had Alzheimer’s, but she could walk well for her age and often went missing because of her illness,” said her son, 49-year-old Manas Parteep Na Talang.

“She left the house yesterday and no one knew where she was. We searched for her until a neighbor told us about the accident at about 7:45 pm.”

“Eyewitnesses said that Mrs Pranit was crossing the road but didn’t see a motorcycle speeding toward her, as the road was dark,” said Lt Peerasit Noopayan of the Cherng Talay Police.

“She was struck by the motorbike and hit her head on the ground. She died instantly at the scene,” he said.

Witnesses to the accident near the Ban Suan Yu Charoen 5 housing estate on Srisoonthorn Road were not able to see the motorbike’s license plate as the driver sped by.

“I hope my mother is at peace and no longer in pain,” said Mr Manas.

— Thawit Bilabdullar