UPDATE: Lt Col Sornthip Chukaew of the Tha Chatchai Police has confirmed that the driver of the truck, a 10-wheeled Isuzu registered in Surat Thani, has surrendered to police. The driver, named by police as Ritthikrai Chumthong, 32, now faces a charge of careless driving causing death.
Pol Lt Col Sornthip Chukaew of Tha Chatchai Police was Informed of the accident, on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound near the entrance to Soi Luan-In in Moo 1, Mai Khao, at 7:30pm.
Police along with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers and rescue unit staff from Mai Khao Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) soon arrived at the scene to find the man’s body* on the road.
He had suffered severe injuries and head trauma, and appeared to have died instantly. His body was taken to Thalang Hospital.
Police were told that the man, who had worked at a hotel in Mai Khao for more than 10 years, was driving towards Phuket Town after finishing work when a truck pulled out of a side street in front of him.
The man was unable to avoid the collision, and his gold-coloured Suzuki motorbike struck the side of the truck, sending the man under the truck’s wheels.
The truck did not stop, witnesses said.
Police are working with Mai Khao OrBorTor in the hope of obtaining CCTV footage that will help them to track the truck driver down and pursue legal action, police said.
* The Phuket News is withholding the man’s name until it has been confirmed that his next of kin have been notified.