French tourists injured as van flips in Kamala

PHUKET: Two French tourists suffered injuries when the minivan they were travelling in flipped on the road past Laem Singha, Kamala, this afternoon (Mar 29).

Kamala Police were informed of the accident, on Kamala Hill, at about 3pm.

A rescue team soon arrived at the scene, and rushed Sandra Lopez, 50, and Frederic Antoine Sanchez, 50, to Patong Hospital.

Ms Lopez had suffered a broken left wrist and cuts in the accident. Mr Sanchez had suffered scratches to his body. Both tourists also described pain in their necks.

The pair were scheduled to check at The Chick Hotel Patong Phuket today, police noted.

The van was carrying eight passengers when the accident happened. No other passengers suffered injuries, police confirmed.

The van driver, not yet named in reports, said that the cause of the accident was brake failure.

The accident today was the second within a week on Kamala Hill.

Two vans collided head-on on a sharp curve near Kalim Bay Thursday last week (Mar 23).

Five people, two men and three women, were injured. One of the injured was the driver. The other four were tourists. All five were rushed to Patong Hospital.

One of the van drivers explained that his right front tyre burst, causing him to lose control of the van, and crash head-on into the other, oncoming, van.

Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub

How does this work out insurance wise in Land of Smile. Who are going to pay the medical bills of the injured tourists? 'Van transport' is a contract. Passenger pays, Driver obligated his side of the contract to deliver passenger safe at agreed destination. 'Pain in the neck' can result in a many years long nightmare, medical and financial!

I was wondering when the usual 'brake failure' defense was going to be brought up! Wouldn't be surprised to learn he had his dumbphone in his hand talking while negotiating the bends one handed. Perhaps we could hear the tourists' version of what happened rather than the driver or the cops?

The van drivers' behaviour has gotten increasingly worse if that is possible. Bullying their way through traffic and using filter lanes to push through as well. Kamala plod never in sight to address this until the aftermath though. Knowing those bends well I suggest speed was a factor, not the usual bull pucky about brake failure.

Welcome to Phuket, and be thankful you weren't killed. Heck, you might even get a photo-op fruit basket! And other thing for certain is that you will see many more crappy vans, aggressive, reckless and dangerous drivers that will help to explain why you were almost killed before you got to your hotel. The road is overflowing with poorly maintained public transport vehicles driven by fools.

French tourists injured as van flips in Kamala

French tourists injured as van flips in Kamala

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