Songkran road toll rises to 320+ 3 murders reported

[Khun Don]

Songkran road toll rises to 88
Published: 13/04/2012 at 11:13 AMOnline news: Local News


A total of 58 people were killed in road accidents yesterday, the second of the "seven dangerous days" of the Songkran holidays, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Friday.

The total holiday road toll rose to 88, from 30 reported on Thursday.

Phichit and Chumphon had the highest number of road fatalities, with five deaths each, followed by Chiang Rai, Suphanburi, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom and Kalasin (three each), the department said.

BANGKOK POST

[Marie]

It is sad this happens year in and year out and lessons don't seem to be learned. :-(

[Khun Don]

Songkran road toll rises to 114
Published: 14/04/2012 at 01:24 PMOnline news:

A total of 114 people were killed and 1,668 others injured in 1,154 road accidents over the first three days of the "seven dangerous days" of the Songkran holidays, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Saturday.

Phichit had the highest number of road fatalities, with eight deaths.

Four provinces that reported no road deaths are Chaiyaphum, Yasothon, Nong Khai and Nong Bua Lamphu.

The department on Friday reported the death toll at 88.

BANGKOK POST

[nam phyyng]

Here in New Zealand we have just finished the Easter Weekend (one of our most dangerous periods for car accidents) without a single fatality. Unbelievable and the first death-free Easter since records have been kept!

[Spiritvn]

First day and walking street for Songkran in CM's really fun, but really dangerous and impolite on the other ways. We feel confuse and be bothered much becoz of the ppl on the road - even high way within water thraw directly to your face :|

[Curt]

Times, they are a changin'.

[Khun Don]

Songkran road toll rises to 210
Published: 15/04/2012 at 12:00 PMOnline news:

A total of 210 people were killed and 2,288 others injured in 2,134 road accidents over the first four days of the "seven dangerous days" of the Songkran holidays, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Sunday.

Nakhon Si Thammarat had the highest number of road fatalities, with eight deaths, followed by Chumphon, Chiang Mai and Rayong with seven deaths.

The department on Saturday reported the death toll at 114.

BANGKOK POST

[Khun Don]

Songkran 5-day death toll 253
Published: 16/04/2012 at 02:14 PMOnline news:


A total of 253 people were killed and 2,751 others injured in 2,134 road accidents from April 11 to 15, the first five of the "seven dangerous days" of the Songkran holiday period, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Monday.

Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani had the most fatalities, 10 each, followed by Pichit (9).

On Sunday, 43 people were killed, with drunk driving the largest single cause. Death and serious injuries related to drink driving increased from 17.14 per cent over the same period last year to 26.19 per cent this year, according to the department.

There were still 12 provinces that held to the governmen's targeted “zero rate” of traffic fatalities -- Kampangpetch, Satun, Yala, Ranong, Nakhon Phanom, Lop Buri, Trang, Trat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Pattani, Sing Buri and Chonburi.

Any province that achieves the government’s target over Songkran will awarded a trophy and cash prize by the Statesman General Prem Tinasulanonda Foundation.

The department reported the road toll for the first four days of the Songkran festival at 210 yesterday.

BANGKOK POST

[Khun Don]

3 slain as Songkran turns ugly
The Nation April 16, 2012 1:00 am

Youth, 16, shot by rival gang on Sathorn

Three vicious murders marred Songkran celebrations in separate incidents around the country yesterday.

In one, a 58-year-old man in Chumphon was clubbed to death by a drunken reveller for objecting to being drenched with water.

In another case in Bangkok, an underage member of an illegal motorcycle gang was shot dead and four others wounded when a rival gang opened fire after a Silom Road water fight turned deadly.

And in Satun, a man knifed a drunken reveller to death for allegedly molesting his sister during a water fight.

Wissanu Wilaikaew, 16, took a bullet to his left chest and four fellow gang members were shot and injured in a salvo fired by members of a rival gang, who approached them on 15 motorcycles on Sathorn Road, near Silom, at around 10pm. Survivors said the groups had brawled earlier in the day during the festivities on Silom, but they had not expected a reprisal so long afterward.

The shooter, described as chubby, was among 15 racers who followed the victims' group from Silom.

In Chumphon, 58-year-old Piak Thongsakul was found dead, with Bt1,300 apparently stolen. Quoting witnesses, police said Piak was on his way to a funeral when he was drenched with water by a man, estimated to be around 25 years of age, who had been throwing water at passers-by.

Piak was seen complaining to the suspect and later making his way by motorcycle to the funeral. The suspect was seen following Piak and reportedly struck him in the face and head repeatedly near a T-junction in Lang Suan district. Piak was described as a poor painter well liked by his neighbours.

In Satun, Prawit Langmuang, 30, was stabbed in his left chest after suspect Ekkaphol Mekmok, 20, scolded him for touching his adult sister, who was celebrating and engaged in a water fight across the street. The men argued before Ekkaphol stabbed Prawit, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Meanwhile, a male transvestite was fined Bt500 yesterday for dancing topless at a party in Ayutthaya, after relatives delivered him to police. Sarawuth Sapharb, 20, was roundly criticised after video clips of him dancing were posted online.

Sarawuth begged for forgiveness from the public and called on Thai youths not to do as he had. He said he was drunk at the time, and succumbed to encouragement by cheering friends who goaded him into stripping off his T-shirt and dancing provocatively.

[Khun Don]

Road death toll rises to 282
Published: 17/04/2012 at 10:59 AMOnline news: Local News


A total of 282 people were killed and 3,059 others injured in 2,872 road accidents over six days of the “seven dangerous days” of the Songkran holidays, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Tuesday.

The fatalities increased by 53, while the injuries dropped by 113 from last year, Chatpong Chatphute, the deputy director general of the department, said.

On April 16, there were 291 road accidents, killing 27 people.

Drunk driving and speeding were main causes of the road accidents.

The department on Monday reported the death toll at 253.

BANGKOK POST