Eight killed in latest van horror (2010 story)

[Khun Don]

Eight killed in latest van horror
Published: 28/12/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Eight people have been killed after they were thrown from a passenger van in which they were travelling when it was involved in an accident with another car on the Don Muang elevated tollway.

The eight, four men and four women, were thrown out of the van and over the tollway wall to fall on the ground below. Seven others were injured.

The accident took place about 10pm on the inbound lanes of the tollway near Kasetsart University.

More: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...est-van-horror

[ian71]

My condolences to the families,what a tragic waste of life, when will people learn speed kills, they must of been going so fast to cause this sort of damage, 31st October was another speed related crash with a mini bus with lots of deaths, i use taxi's or big buses when in Thailand, i have used mini buses in the past on visa runs and transfers from airports,but i think I'm going to stay clear from now on and if available wear a seat belt,and motor bikes, i stay well clear.

[Mahindrasarath]

Ohhh!!!sad...condolesense,it's invane if lives if the driver didn't carefull, tragedy shouldn't happened during the occassion like this, it's make the tourists more aware about it.

[paul_au]

When are they going to start introducing safety belts in the back seats, My condolences.

[Khun Don]

What went wrong?
By Mayuree Sukyingchaorenwong
Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation
Published on December 30, 2010



Investigation not conclusive as experts voice conflicting opinions about Monday

Things remained quite inconclusive as experts appeared to contradict one another yesterday over the Monday night smash-up on the elevated tollway section of Vibhavadi-Rangsit Highway, which killed eight people and injured six others.
The director of the Traffic and Transport Development and Research Centre, Dr Tawatchai Laosirihongthong, who led the investigation, told the Nation Channel's morning news programme yesterday that he had some new information:
1. The van showed no trace of being hit by the sedan;
2. The sedan has red paint on its side, suggesting that a third vehicle was involved in the accident; and
3. The van's door remained closed because the latch was twisted, hence it could not have slid open, suggesting the passengers flew through the shattered windows.
Meanwhile Maj-General Panu Kerdlarppol, deputy Metropolitan Police chief responsible for traffic, said the catastrophe most likely stemmed from reckless driving, because security-camera footage showed the sedan tailing the van, and it obviously couldn't brake in time when it was in trouble.
He said the collision impact appeared to be small, but it forced the van to lose control and start spinning, which made the door slide open and fling some passengers out to their death. He said the sedan was travelling far too close to the van, despite vehicles being required by law to keep a distance from other vehicles so they can brake appropriately.
He said the sedan driver had no licence.
Sattrawut Ponboon of the Asian Institute of Technology's Thailand Accident Research Centre said it had not determined the cause of the accident and was collecting evidence. Initial security-camera footage shows that the accident took place when the sedan was behind the van, before it lost control and started spinning, hitting a concrete wall and an electricity pole, and with no seat belts or airbags, the passengers were flung out. Yet it cannot be concluded how the accident took place, he said.


Meanwhile, another road-accident researcher who investigated the scene as well as the vehicles, and asked not to be named, said there was no evidence suggesting that a third car had been involved. The researcher also said tyre traces showed that both vehicles started spinning and maybe hit each other, the wall or the pole several times before overturning. The van had seat belts on all its seats.
Also, the researcher said security footage showed the van travelling in the centre lane with the sedan tailing close behind before hitting it, causing both vehicles to start spinning and then overturning. The researcher said key evidence was in the camera footage and the testimony of the sedan driver - provided it was double-checked by the police. If the sedan driver's testimony is in line with security-camera footage and other evidence, then it will be known what really caused this horrific accident, the researcher said.
Wisarut Bholsithi, research assistant at the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre, was one of the injured and is being treated at Vibhavadi Hospital. He suffered injuries on his head, forehead and legs and bad bruises and has trouble breathing.
The victim recounted that he was on his way home to Chaeng Wattana from his office in Pathum Thani's Rangsit district.
"I was asleep and then I heard a loud bang, before the van started spinning. I saw many of the seats empty as I struggled to get out of the wreckage. Then I saw some injured passengers on the road and realised why the seats were empty."
He said he borrowed a rescue worker's mobile phone to inform his mother of his whereabouts. "I will never be able to forget what happened."
Wisarut said he was feeling better and expected to spend New Year's Day at home. "After this near-death experience, I will make merit on January 1 and pray that the next year is a good one."

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

It's like each of those quoted is reporting on a different but similar accident.

David

[Curt]

"The sedan has red paint on its side, suggesting that a third vehicle was involved in the accident"

This is a bit of over thinking the situation. Most vehicles, in Thailand, have a a dozen different color samples on them! ;-)

[BUCKY]

Teen under fire over crash
Internet critics blame girl for tollway tragedy
Published: 30/12/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

The 16-year-old driver of a Honda sedan involved in a fatal tollway crash on Monday night has come under strong criticism after a photo showing her using a smart phone moments after the accident was circulated on the internet
The picture, which shows a young woman standing near a wrecked Honda Civic with a phone in her hands, has drawn harsh criticism.

Critics say the girl, identified as Orachorn "Prae-wa" Thephasadin Na Ayudhya, was standing on the tollway chatting on her smart phone even as victims lay dying 20m below her. At 16, she is not old enough to hold a driver's licence.

............................

Actor Nat Thephasadin Na Ayudhya, Ms Orachorn's step-brother, said his sister and family were under great pressure as a result of the barrage of criticism.

Nat insisted his sister was not chatting with friends on her Blackberry phone as widely believed.

"I talked to her about the photo which is circulating on the internet," he said.

"She was calling her father. She wasn't chatting on BB."

His family would call a news conference about the affair but he did not specify when. "My father is a soldier. He is a man of justice. He teaches discipline, integrity and justice.".......................
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva pledged to ensure justice for all concerned following criticism that powerful people were pulling strings to help the teen driver.

"Nobody is above the law," he said.

Full article at http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...ire-over-crash
Doesn't seem to be "seriously injured" as previously reported... also surname seems very "hi-so". Reminds me of the "Moo Ham" incident where the son of a high ranking soldier drove his mercedes straight into a crowd killing 2. Lets see what the so far "all talk but no show" PM can do about it.

[KhaoNiaw]

Lets see what the so far "all talk but no show" PM can do about it.

PMs are meant to get involved with traffic accidents and investigations?

[BUCKY]

PMs are meant to get involved with traffic accidents and investigations?

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva pledged to ensure justice for all concerned following criticism that powerful people were pulling strings to help the teen driver.

"Nobody is above the law," he said.

Good question. Perhaps he shouldn't comment then?