Young woman crushed to death on Phuket beach road

PHUKET: A young Phang Nga woman was killed on the Patong beach road, on Phuket’s west coast, yesterday when a six-wheeled truck ran over her after colliding with the motorbike she was driving.

Kathu Police received a report of the accident on Thaweewong Road, near the junction with Phra Barami Road, at about 6pm.

Arayada Budsayakul, 27, was killed instantly, police said.

“From our initial investigation, it appears that vehicles ahead of Ms Arayada had stopped, waiting to turn left [toward Kalim Beach] and right [onto Phra Baramee Road] from the one-way road,” said Duty Officer Pathapee Srichai.

“Ms Arayada was driving on the left side of the right lane – nearly between lanes – when the truck, which was traveling in the middle of the road, hit her from behind.

“Her motorbike fell over and she was thrown under the truck,” Lt Pathapee said.

Police noted that the force of the accident was enough to kill Ms Arayada even though she was wearing a helmet at the time.

The driver of the truck, Rattana Kumsin, did not flee the scene and was not drunk when the accident occurred, Lt Pathapee said.

“The accident is still being investigated and we are awaiting results of a post-mortem examination from Patong Hospital as well as from the Provincial Police Forensic Department,” he said.

“Neither Ms Arayada nor Mr Rattana were carrying passengers,” he said, adding that Mr Rattana will be asked to undergo more police questioning.

— Atchaa Khamlo