Phuket: Luxembourg family demands justice after fatal road accident

A tragic accident in Phuket has left the family of a young woman from Luxembourg seeking answers.

Nineteen-year-old Schintgen Cey-lan was killed in a road collision earlier this month, along with her American boyfriend, 21 year old Nickolas Joseph Ayoub. The two were riding a motorbike when a car, driven by Russian national Irina Pustovalova, hit them from behind. The incident was recorded on CCTV, shedding light on the circumstances of the fatal incident.

The accident, which occurred in the early hours of November 5 on Wiset Road, Rawai, saw both Cey-lan and Ayoub die at the scene. Pustovalova, who was injured in the crash, was hospitalised before the police arrived. Her car had veered off the road, ending up in a ditch after colliding with a power pole.

The recording from Rawai Municipality’s CCTV shows that the couple was riding at a reasonable speed and was in the left lane when they were hit. The right lane was free of traffic.

Despite the arrival of Major General Saksira Phueakam, the national Tourist Police Commissioner, in Phuket the next day, no information regarding the accident has been released by the police or local authorities. Phueakam had arrived to spearhead an increased campaign for tourist safety.

Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has since assured Royal Thai Police and other officials that significant steps are being taken to enhance tourist safety.

In the wake of the tragic accident, Cey-lan’s family reached out to European news agency RTL to share their ordeal. Cey-lan was visiting her grandmother in Phuket with her parents when the accident occurred. Her aunt, Zara-ly Pizzuto, provided details of the night it happened.

According to Pizzuto, Cey-lan’s mother was informed of the tragic news by a phone call to their hotel. The family has since filed a complaint, but information about the case remains scarce.

Pustovalova, the driver of the car involved in the accident, has reportedly resumed her normal life after suffering minor injuries. However, her passport has allegedly been confiscated by the authorities. Pizzuto expressed the family’s frustration over the lack of progress in the case.

They engaged a Thai lawyer to liaise with the authorities, and have reached out to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further assistance, reported Phuket News.

A Buddhist funeral ceremony for Cey-lan was held at Wat Chalong on November 8, with her cremation taking place the following day. Meanwhile, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed its role in assisting families in such cases and plans to reach out to local authorities in Phuket.

The ministry also has the option to use the Belgian embassy, under an international cooperation agreement dating back to 1965, in countries where Luxembourg has no diplomatic representation.

The spokesperson for the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed regular contact with Cey-lan’s family and Thai authorities. However, they declined to provide further details on the case, citing privacy laws.