Toddler killed in motorbike smash

KARON: The three-year-old daughter of an American expatriate was killed in a motorcycle accident in Karon early on Saturday afternoon. Herman Bachmann, 69, better known to Phuket residents as Shankar, was riding his bike along Patak Rd in Karon, heading toward Phuket Town, with his maid on the back and the child in front. In front of the Karon Tong Restaurant, Mr Bachmann’s bike was hit by another coming from the opposite direction, driven by a 14-year-old identified as Taweesak Laksanawimon. “The road is winding and was very slippery because of the rain. Taweesak lost control of his bike and hit Mr Bachmann,” explained Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of Chalong Police Station. The child, Maneejan Pakawan, who was in a bamboo child seat in the front of the motorbike, died instantly. Mr Bachmann suffered a broken right hand and right leg while the maid, Patanasri Kanchai, 30, also had her right leg broken. They were taken to the Phuket International Hospital. Taweesak, who was severely injured, was taken to Wachira Phuket Hospital where he was pronounced dead two hours later.