British expat killed in Koh Samui motorbike accident, another seriously injured
A British expat has been tragically killed in a motorbike accident on Thailand’s island of Koh Samui in the early hours of yesterday morning, with another man from the UK seriously injured. The two men had been on a motorbike together when they collided with a garbage truck.
The man killed had been the passenger on the motorbike. He was 36 years old, and reportedly a Pattaya resident and businessman. The man seriously injured was the driver. He was reported to be around 30 years old.
Rescuers arrived to find the damaged motorbike, and the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured driver was rushed to a nearby hospital. Under the motorbike seat rescue staff stated they found cans and bottles of beer. The garbage truck driver was not injured. The driver, 42 year old Attaphon Wichean, told The Phuket Express…
“I was turning into a side road before I heard the crash. I’m not sure what exactly happened.”
Koh Samui police are continuing to investigate for possible legal steps, and plan to interview the injured man when he recovers. Although there were no direct witnesses, CCTV reportedly captured the tragic crash.
Thailand’s roads are notoriously deadly. Thailand has been ranked as the second most dangerous country to drive in according to a driver’s educational platform. There were 21,052 accidents in 2020, and 11,138 accidents in 2021. 20% of accidents have involved motorcycles, while 8% have involved six-wheel trucks, and 8% have involved trucks with at least 10 wheels. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has this year announced a major goal of cutting the number of road deaths by almost two-thirds by 2027.
Hopefully, somehow some way, Thailand can find a solution to prevent the number of heartbreaking road deaths, such as this recent one in Koh Samui.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
