Five killed in road accident

News > Local News

Published: 8 Oct 2012 at 17.25
Online news: Local News

Five members of a family were killed when a pick-up truck they were traveling in skidded off Highway 41 and rammed into a tree in Chumphon's Sawi district on Monday morning.

Pol Lt-Col Sayan Chantaramat, the duty officer at Sawi police station, said the accident took place in front of Wat Phraboromthat Sawi between kilometre markers 35 and 36 on Highway 41 in tambon Sawi.

Killed were Somkiat Sangthong, 36, the driver, his wife Sunitta Mekkaew, 33, their son Ariya, 16, daughter Soraya, 8, and Somkiat's mother Mrs Saeng, about 70. All are natives of Pak Phanang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

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barryw
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Discussion 7 : 09 Oct 2012 at 13.157
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Fully support Dis#5 on this. And how many know that riding in the back of a pick-up (not in the cab) is actually illegal. But like every law in Thailand it isn't enforced, so people die. Mai Pen Rai.
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karl2009
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Discussion 6 : 09 Oct 2012 at 09.466
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I would have to agree with Dis 3. Wearing a seat is a simple and easy solution and could prevent further injury and possibly death. I wonder how many were actually wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Such a sad loss of life. May they RIP.

I travel in the van everyday to work. There are never any seat belts for the passengers in the back, as they have been tied back or disabled. I would always wear my seatbelt if it is available.

Even the newer taxies don't provide seat belts.

I think the government's transport ministry should promote seatbelt use. And passenger vans, taxi, and long haul buses should be fined for not making seatbelts available to passengers.
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NangrongJ
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Discussion 5 : 09 Oct 2012 at 09.255
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Yet another totally avoidable accident.
I recently had the misfortune to witness a driving test taking place but now I know why there are so many needles accidents.

Poor training, inadequate testing, poor vehicle maintenence ( I regularly see loaded up pick-up trucks with bald tyres) and badly designed roads;all contributing factors to Thailand's shame, it's road safety record.
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onlyme
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Discussion 4 : 09 Oct 2012 at 09.074
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It wouldn't possibly so much about seat belts as the real possibility that it was the bed of the pick up truck that was full not the cab. How many trucks loaded with people in the back have you see?
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djjp
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Discussion 3 : 08 Oct 2012 at 21.243
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The absolute refusal to wear seat belts doesn't help either. Driving at 120km an hour with the kids in the front seat bouncing up and down on mums lap with the parents using the excuse that the kids are happier than if they were in the back seat belted up. My kids scream and yell blue murder when I strap them in only for passing Thais to look down there noses at me and my wife and stating under their breath that we are uncaring inconsiderate parents. RIP.
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pointman-1
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Discussion 2 : 08 Oct 2012 at 20.082
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It's very sad to read this type of story where an entire family is lost, when this type of accident could have been prevented. Signs should be erected along paved highways, warning drivers of the possibly of their vehicle hydroplaning on wet pavemnt, or when it's raining. The faster you drive on a wet road, the higher your chances become of the vehicle hydroplaning off the highway. As the vehicle picks up speed, the water becomes pressurized under the tires, lifitng the vehicle off the road. At high speed, the water under the tires becomes as slick as ice, with the driver losing control and the vehicle hydroplaning off the road.
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pointoffew
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Discussion 1 : 08 Oct 2012 at 18.041
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Not just the number of traffic accidents and fatalities is very high in Thailand, especially the number of single vehicle accidents is extremely high. Possible causes of such accidents include loss of concentration, driving under the influence, overloading, poor or no maintenance of vehicles, poor or no maintenance of roads, poor and sometimes incorrect signage.
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Five killed in road accident | Bangkok Post: news