Songkran death toll climbs to 323 in five days

Songkran death toll climbs to 323 in five days

An Isuzu MU7X vehicle landed in a ditch diving a road in Tha Sae district of Chumphon after the driver lost control of the vehicle on Monday morning. Two of the five occupants were killed and three others, including the driver, hurt in the crash.  (Photo by Amnart Thongdee)
An Isuzu MU7X vehicle landed in a ditch diving a road in Tha Sae district of Chumphon after the driver lost control of the vehicle on Monday morning. Two of the five occupants were killed and three others, including the driver, hurt in the crash. (Photo by Amnart Thongdee)

The accumulated death toll from the first five of the so-called seven dangerous days of Songkran has risen to 323, with 3,140 people hospitalised in over 3,000 road accidents across the country, the Road Safety Centre announced on Monday.

On Sunday alone, sixty-nine people were killed and 589 hospitalised in 552 road accidents nationwide, said Damrong Limapirak, adviser to the Education Ministry, citing a report from the Road Safety Centre.

This brought the accumulated death toll from April 11 to 15 to 323. Another 3140 were injured in a total of 3,001 road accidents.

Drink-driving was stated to be the major cause of the fatal crashes (42.03%), followed by speeding (25.72%).

Motorcycles were involved in the highest number of crashes (78.53%), said Mr Damrong. 

People aged over 50 accounted for 23.25% of the road deaths. Traffic accidents occurred mostly between 4pm to 8pm.

178,191 traffic offenders were arrested at 2,031 road checkpoints, including 51,488 motorcylists without crash helmets and 46,094 people for not carrying a driving licence.

Nakhon Ratchasima recorded the highest accumulated death toll from April 11 to 15, with 19 fatalities,  while Chiang Mai had the highest number of injuries at 136, and also the highest number of road accidents at 119.

Seven provinces –Yala, Ranong, Satun, Samut Songkram, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphun, and Ang Thong - recorded no deaths from road accidents, said Mr Damrong.

Rescue workers arrive at the scene of a crash in Ayutthya's Bang Ban district on Sunday. Three people were killed and 26 others injured in a pile-up involving six vehicles, both motorcycles and cars. (Photo by Sunthorn Pongpao)

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