The incident occurred around 8:20am Saturday (Aug 10) at the Mister Com intersection on Pattana Rd Soi 3 in Phuket Town.
Pol Lt Surachai Watitsuphaphol of the Phuket City Police explained that the barbed wire was flung into the air by a Myanmar worker employed by Phuket City Municipality to cut grass along the roadside.
The injured woman, Wilailak Tiabsingh, 45, from Ranong, was quickly taken to the Phuket Provincial Hospital for treatment, Lt Surachai said.
The piece of barbed wire, about two inches long, was left dangling from Ms Wilailak’s eye, where it was embedded.
The worker Nay Naing Lin is a Myanmar national employed by Somphong and Relatives Mining Limited Partnership, which had been hired by Phuket City Municipality to maintain cleanliness on the streets and in public areas, Lt Surachai said.
Ms Wilailak explained that she was on her way to work. She had stopped to buy breakfast and was driving as usual when she suddenly felt something hit her eyes, causing severe pain.
Unable to communicate with Myanmar workers cutting grass nearby, she sought medical attention on her own by calling for rescue services and notifying the police.
The employer of the grass-cutting workers has contacted Ms Wilailak and is prepared to discuss responsibility and compensation, Lt Surachai said.
However, due to the public holiday, the meeting will take place tomorrow.
Investigators have already interviewed witnesses and are continuing their investigation.
The Phuket News notes that Phuket City Municipality regularly posts online photos showing workers cutting grass in areas throughout Phuket Town.
The photos consitently show workers holding large sections of material around the areas where grass is being cut specifically to prevent any such injuries from occurring.
Doctors at Phuket Provincial Hospital have confirmed that the piece of barbed wire has been removed from Ms Wilailak’s eye, but added she needs more time to recover from her injury.
The extent of the damage to Ms Wilailak’s eye has not been confirmed.