PHUKET -- Three people were killed and five injured in an accident involving a van carrying pilots and crew of China Airlines, a pick-up truck and a big bike in Thalang district early Sunday, police said.
Pol Capt Kraisorn Boonprasop, deputy investigation chief of Thalang police station, said the accident occurred at about 2am on the outbound Thep Krasatree Road in front of Thung Thong ice factory.
Prachuap Chuaywang, 45, the van driver, told police that he was taking about 10 China Airlines crew members, including pilots, from a hotel at Kalim Beach in Kathu district to Phuket airport when the van was hit in the rear by a pick-up truck travelling at high speed.
The impact caused the van to skid off the road, with its rear damaged. Fortunately, he was only slightly injured and the China Airlines crew were not hurt, Mr Prachuap said.
The pick-up truck overturned and ended up lying on the road's central reservation. The driver of the pick-up, Atthaphan Panthip, 36, sustained a minor injury while the other people in the vehicle were not hurt.
The accident occurred when big bike suddenly rammed into the rear of the pick-up truck at high speed. The big bike driver, later identified as Thanadol Saila, 33, of Bangkok's Lat Krabang district, and a female pillion rider, Pacharee Wuthiphan-ayu, 29, of Maha Sarakham's Kosum Phisai district, were killed.
Five pedestrians - four women and a man - were also hit and wounded by the big bike. The man, a security guard later identified as Pornsawan Kongphet, 51, died later at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
The four women and the pick-up driver were admitted to Thalang Hospital.