The two were on a superbike travelling north from Central Festival when they were in collision with a car, which was coming in the opposite direction and turning across them into Klong Bangyai Rd, the road that runs along the back of Phuket International Hospital.
Both students are still in Phuket International Hospital. Bike driver Sevastan Lukashov, aged 16, received head and leg injuries. His passenger, Vladislav Adrashko, 15, suffered leg and arm injuries.
We received many comments on the story online at thephuketnews.com, as well as on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews), with many readers asking the reasonable question: What was a 16 year old doing driving such a powerful motorbike in the first place?
It is not known if Sevastan had a motorbike licence, or if the boys were wearing helmets. It is also not known who was at fault in the crash. Police are investigating and will no doubt be able to provide more details soon.
But in Thailand, it is legal to obtain a motorbike licence at age 16. Unlike in some countries, the licence does not include regulations or limits regarding what size bike the person can drive.
In many Western nations, there is a “step-by-step” process to obtaining a full motorbike licence, which usually always involves limits relating to what size bike the licence holder can drive, until they are experienced and confident. As such, the restrictions are usually reduced with age.
This crash has raised important questions relating to our young people driving cars and motorbikes on the island’s increasingly busy roads.
Two young boys, with no doubt a great future ahead of them, have been seriously injured. Perhaps better regulations and enforcement regarding age limits for riding such powerful bikes might prevent similar crashes happening in the future.