Anucha Promraksa, 25, died from a broken neck. His 15-year-old passenger, Surawut Chomsri from Sakon Nakorn, was taken to hospital semi-conscious, and suffering from scrapes and bruises.
Yesterday was the first of the Seven Days, the last being January 3. The authorities had hoped to record no deaths during the period, spanning the New Year, when alcohol plays a heightened role in traffic accidents. Anucha's death, just 15 minutes into the period, will come as a big disappointment.
A worker from the HomePro Thalang branch, who witnessed the accident, said he saw Anucha’s Honda Scoopy i bike hit the central reservation at high speed.
“The passenger bounced off and slid along the road while the motorbike flipped in the air several times before the driver fell off and landed head-first,” he said.
Anucha’s body was sent to the Thalang hospital morgue for his blood to be checked to see whether alcohol might have played a role in the crash.