Officers learned of the accident, on Phra Metta Rd right in front of Patong Police Station, at 5:14am.
Officers arrived at the scene to find a black Toyota pickup registered in Phuket with damage to its front. The driver, Myanmar national Yan Paing Soe, was not injured
On the road was Thai national Anusorn Mungmamat and his blue-and-black Honda motorbike registered Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Mr Anusorn, wearing a full-face helmet, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Patong Hospital.
The driver of a second motorbike at the scene, a Honda Click motorbike registered in Phuket, had been seriously injured. The driver was a British man*, police confirmed. They did not confirm his age.
The British man was rushed to Patong Hospital, but pronounced dead.
Police questioned Mr Anusorn and Mr Yan Paing Soe, who told officers that they were both driving along Phra Metta Rd towards Patong Hospital when they realised that the motorbike driven by the British man was coming straight at them on the wrong side of the road.
The British rider first hit Mr Ansorn on his motorbike, then hit the pickup truck.
Police are continuing their investigation to corroborate the statements given and said they will contact the British embassy to inform them of the accident.
According to national road safety agency ThaiRSC, 79 people have been killed and a further 11,213 people have been injured in road accidents in Phuket so far this year.
* The Phuket News is withholding the man’s name until it has been confirmed that his next of kin have been notified.