Local residents complained a month ago about the flood erosion on the Baan Lipon-Baan Bangjo Rd in Moo4 that had caused the road to collapse, leaving a hole eight metres across and two metres deep.
Orbortor officials, however, told residents to use an alternative route via Baan Banjo Prison because the council did not have the funds to make repairs.
Last night one of the locals, Supaporn Jareonrak, called police to report that a motorcycle and a pick-up truck had driven into the hole.
Srisoonthorn rescuers, Kusoldharm rescuers and police arrived to find the Isuzu truck lying in the hole, on top of the wreckage of the motorbike.
Inside were the driver of the truck, Phakkamon Duangchaytemcharat, 38, suffering from a broken arm, and her seven-year-old daughter, Molly Anne Bailey, who was unconscious. Both were rushed to Thalang hospital.
Residents told police the motorcycle belonged to Sod Boonrueang, 34, who had earlier driven into the hole. Locals had taken him to hospital 10 minute before the truck crashed on top of his bike.
This morning police visited Sod at Thalang hospital to take a statement and then went to see Mrs Phakkamon and her daughter in Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment. Molly is still unconscious and in intensive care.
Residents issued a plea to Worawut Songyod, the Mayor of Srisoonthorn, to do something about the hole. They said last night’s accidents were not the first; “many vehicles” that used the road had fallen into the hole, they said, and been injured.
Police noted that the road was dark at the time of the crash, with few street lights and no warning lights. The only warning was a piece of green plastic net stretched across the road and a small handwritten notice on a piece of cloth stating, “Road cut off.”
Mayor Worawut told The Phuket News that his staff had installed a series of metal crowd control barriers across the road and put up warning signs at the side of the road before the hole, but that someone had removed the barriers – he did not know who or why.
He added that he had spoken to Ms Phakkamon in hospital. He said she told him she used the road regularly and, seeing the barriers no longer there, had assumed that the road had been fixed.
He added that he was working on ways to prevent further accidents.
Molly underwent brain surgery this afternoon and is now back in intensive care.