Traffic policeman added to Phuket’s New Year casualty list

PHUKET: A traffic policeman has been added to Phuket’s New Year casualty list during the nationwide Seven Days of Sanger safety campaign, which began at midnight on Tuesday.

Cpl Thanan Paisornarong, 27, was run down while attempting to stop a motorcycle at a checkpoint in Phuket Town at 2:50pm yesterday. He was taken to the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization Hospital in Rassada for treatment of minor injuries.

A nurse at the hospital confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that Cpl Thanan eight to 10 stitches in his right arm.

“He also suffered heavy bruising to his legs,” she said.

Police apprehended the 15-year-old riding the motorbike, which was reportedly stolen, but declined to reveal what – if any charges – the minor would face.

In the only other accident recorded by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office yesterday, Boris Savchenko, 28, was admitted to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town after his motorcycle collided with another in front of the Krua Thungthong restaurant on Wichit Songkram Road in Kathu at 8:45pm.

The two men injured in the two accidents brought Phuket’s death and injury tally over the New Year holidays to one dead and 28 injured in 27 accidents at the close of fourth day of the Seven Days of Danger campaign.

Phuket’s sole fatality so far is Anoma Muangpanij, 20, who died after being knocked off the motorbike on which she was riding pillion after a collision with a Mercedes-Benz on Chao Fa East Road in Wichit just after midnight on Tuesday (story here).

The death of Tantima Thaworn, 37, after her car was involved in the accident on Tuesday that saw a tour bus with 37 Russian tourist on board flip onto its roof will not be included in the New Year safety campaign statistics, as the accident occurred about 14 hours before the campaign began (story here).

The Seven Days of Danger campaign will conclude at 12pm on Monday.

— Saroj Kueprasertkij