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Canadian woman crushed by truck in motorbike accident

PHUKET: A 29-year-old Canadian woman riding a motorbike from Chalong to Kata died this morning when she was crushed under the wheels of a 10-wheeled truck.

Friday 1 March 2019, 04:16PM

Police at the scene of the accident this morning (Mar 1). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Karon Police were notified of the accident at 11am.

Capt Channarong Prakongkue of the Karon Police arrived at the scene, between Soi Kuan Tone 1 and 2, with Ruamjai Rescue Foundation emergency responders to find the body of the woman on the road.

The 10-wheeled truck and its driver, Mongkol Sawanglap, from Surat Thani, were some 50 metres down the road, Capt Channarong reported.

Mr Mongkol told the police that he was delivering construction equipment from Chalong to Kata when the accident happened.

“He said he was driving slowly down the hill in third gear when he saw a motorbike behind him, trying to pass him on the left, so he moved the truck further to the right to let the motorbike pass,” Capt Channarong reported.

Mr Mongkol said that the motorbike had almost passed him when he saw it suddenly veer right into the truck. The woman, who was wearing a helmet, was crushed under the wheels.

Mr Mongkol said he stopped the truck and called police immediately.

Capt Channarong called Mr Mongkol to Karon Police Station for further questioning.

“We will check any CCTV footage that may be available from the area before deciding whether any charges should be pressed,” Capt Channarong said.

The woman’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

* The Phuket News is withholding the woman’s name until it has been confirmed that her next of kin have been notified.

skippinalong | 03 March 2019 - 09:25:29

having just returned from phuket i am not surprised by tragedy on the roads.  drivers are heartless for the most part.  i was in a minivan where driver was taking 12 to airport, he shifted with left and held phone to his right ear for the entire trip.  often no hands on wheel.  he ran a red with tons of time to stop.  sped, tailgated and almost ran over a dozen motorbikes.  rip novice driver, sad.

Nasa12 | 02 March 2019 - 10:46:32

Trucks / buses / taxis and tuk tuk +++ never run in the marked drive fields at this location, they cut as they suit them.

Gat Huckle | 01 March 2019 - 21:45:05

 …driving slowly down the hill…moved to the right to let the bike pass… I don’t know which of those two statements is more ridiculous. If either of those things happened it would be the first time in Thai history. More likely he squeezed her and since there’s a damn good chance she was unqualified to be on the bike she panicked and then hit the front brake too hard and went down.

CaptainJack69 | 01 March 2019 - 16:25:06

Says a lot about Thai driving that he thinks the right thing to do was move his truck further right (into on-coming traffic?) to allow a motorbike to under-take him on the left.

Well the outcome proves my point. You drive on the left and pass slower moving traffic on the right if and when it's safe to do so.

Oh what am I saying. ME FIRST.