Phuket

Six dead, 520 hurt during Songkhran

Published

18 years ago

April 16, 2001

Six dead, 520 hurt during Songkhran | The Thaiger

PHUKET: Six people died in traffic accidents in Phuket during the Songkhran holiday, according to statistics compiled from all of the island’s hospitals. In addition, 520 people were injured in traffic accidents. “Ninety percent of the accidents involved motorbikes, and most occurred between the evening of April 13 and the early morning of April 14,” Ampaipan Pawawattananusorn of the Phuket Provincial Health Office told the Gazette. “Most were teenagers, and some had been driving drunk,” she added. The number of people killed and injured was very close to last year’s figure of six dead and 439 injured, but sharply higher than in 1999, when three people died in road accidents and 155 were injured. Nationwide, at least 489 people were reported killed and 38,651 injured during the festivities, according to a government statement issued yesterday. In the statement, Deputy Health Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said the festive period toll was expected to climb as people began to return home from the provinces for the first working day of the new year tomorrow. “The accidents seem to be spread across all provinces, happening at a rate of about 4.9 deaths and 285 injured every hour,” he said, adding that at least 70% of the patients treated by nurses and doctors this year were drunk. By comparison, noted Surapong, last year’s nationwide Songkhran death toll was 164.

Phuket

UPDATE: Water truck driver presents himself to police after motorcycle death on Kata hill

Published

2 hours ago

March 21, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

UPDATE: Water truck driver presents himself to police after motorcycle death on Kata hill | The Thaiger

A water truck driver has presented himself to Karon Police after yesterday’s road accident on Kata Hill that killed a female motorcycle rider.

She died after skidding on oil spilled on the road, falling off the motorbike and being crushed by a water truck in Kata last night. Two others motorists following being also crashed and sustained injuries.

Read more about yesterday’s incident HERE.

This morning the water truck driver, Apichart Sripan, has himself to Karon Police for questioning over the incident.

Karon Police report that a drug and alcohol test has been conducted returning a zero result. But he has been charged with reckless driving causing injury and death.

In our earlier report, police say witnesses report the truck stopped 100 metres down the road. They say the driver got out of the truck to inspect the wheels. Witnesses tried to take photo of him but he got back into his truck and sped away.

Phang Nga

68 Ridley’s sea turtles hatched on Phang Nga beach – VIDEO

Published

4 hours ago

March 21, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS/VIDEO: The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand

68 Ridley’s baby sea turtles have hatched on Tha Sai Beach in Thai Muang, Phang Nga and made their way to the sea last night.

Ridley’s sea turtles, a protected species in Thailand, have returned recently to Phang Nga beaches to breed over the past few months following a 23 year absence.

Read more about the return of the Ridley’s turtles HERE.

Last night 68 baby Ridley’s sea turtles, from 81 eggs survived, hatched and headed straight for the Andaman Sea. Two of them didn’t hatch and 11 eggs weren’t fertilised.

Bon voyage little turtles!

Phuket

Motorbike driver dies, another person injured after car driver slams into them

Published

5 hours ago

March 21, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

Motorbike driver dies, another person injured after car driver slams into them | The Thaiger

A female motorbike driver has died while a male car driver has sustained injuries after a second car driver fell asleep at the wheel in Thalang crashing into them.

The incident happened on Srisoonthorn Road in Thalang at 2pm yesterday (Wednesday).

Police and emergency responders arrived to find a damaged motorbike and two damaged cars.

Police report that the car driver, Dechawat Taechanitisawat, fell asleep at the wheel. He lost control of his vehicle before colliding with the motorbike whose driver was 34 year old Ms Tanakorn Chadaphon and another car driven by 39 year old Pradit Ruecha.

They were both rushed to Thalang Hospital where Ms Tanakorn was later pronounced dead.

Police are continuing their investigation and will charge Dechawat Taechanitisawat.