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[webfact]

4 Swedes, 1 Thai dead in horror smash near Phuket
Phuket Gazette


The crash site in Khok Kloy, just over the bridge from Phuket. Photo: Narinthorn Rescue Foundation Phang Nga


The driver of the fish transport truck fled the scene after the accident. He is now being sought by Phuket and Phang Nga Police. Photo: Narinthorn Rescue Foundation Phang Nga

PHUKET: -- Two young Swedish couples and their Thai driver were killed instantly yesterday morning when their rented car was hit head-on by a six-wheel refrigerator truck in Takua Thung District, Phang Nga.

The dead were identified by their ID cards as:

Elin Marita Hedbris, 21
Frida Madeleine Falk, 22
Anders Tobias Larsson, 22
Johan Olof Nikolas Svensson, 22
Wichit Phromluang, 26, from Udon Thani

According to Swedish media reports, the two couples were from the town of Varberg and were on a three-week holiday. They had been staying in Patong.

Swedish consular staff are aware of the crash and will assist the families of the victims.

The bodies of all five victims were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

According to reports, all five were killed instantly when the Honda compact car they were riding in was hit head on by a six-wheel refrigerator truck owned by a fish transport firm Chotepatama Company.

Takua Thung District Police are now hunting the driver, who fled the scene.

The accident happened on the wide stretch of bypass road that runs behind the Thung Pho School in Khok Kloy subdistrict.

According to one report the Swedes were on their way to the popular diving destination of Koh Tao, part of Chumphon Province, when the crash occurred.

It was the worst mass casualty event involving Swedes in Thailand since the 2004 tsunami disaster.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12180.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2012-02-02

[bunta71]

Sincere condolences to the families...saddens me

[stevehaigh]

'Takua Thung District Police are now hunting the driver, who fled the scene.'

what a shock, that never happens

[ratcatcher]

Another tragedy, more griefstricken families thousands of miles away. Could have happened in any country but so sad anyway.
R.I.P. and condolences to all the families and friends.

[rheinwiese]

So young...so very sad. RIP and condolences to the families

[DocN]

RIP

[Just1Voice]

sincerest condolences to the families of the victims.
but yet another senseless tradgedy caused by irresponsible driving.  so commonplace in Thailand that it's hardly news anymore.
"the driver fled the scene".  nothing new about that.  that's standard practice.  Where I'm from that would result in two things:  1) Carges of vehicular manslaughter.  2) Fleeing the scene of an accident involving death.  The driver WOULD be found and, and most likely spend a minimum of 20 years in prison.

But TIT where "responsibility" is unheard of, and even if the driver feels "remorse" and turns himself in, very little will happen to him.

[Postmaster]

What a terrible accident for the young couples and the thai guy.  Very very sad indeed for 5 families

[ajarnmarc]

Sounds like a typical over pass overtake, where the thai just assumed the other car would get out of the way.
Happens all the time in Koh Samui, and it's a daily scare if you don't keep your eye on the road,
and move out of the way quickly. Since thai's hate to face responsibilty for their mistakes, it's not to surprising that the driver fled. All the passanger were young and had a whole life ahead of them, it really is a shame for their families, and if this was a local thai accident, all hell would break loose for their loss.
Very sad indeed for the tourist.

[beano2274]

Does not mention what actually happened, were there no witnesses?
Another surprise that the driver fled, but they know who was driving and he will get caught, but of no help to the families of those lost.

A sad loss and all so young. RIP

[TomTao]

Why are we seeing so many reports of fatal accidents around Phuket recently? Shame there is not a more in depth report into the cause of the accdent. Too young to have their lives ended in such a tragic way.

[Frankythai]

condolences to the Swedish as well as the Thai familys
I hope they catch the driver soon and will investigate all

[Hurricane51]

"...Police are now hunting the driver, who fled the scene."

It seems this is true in the majority of tragic motorway accidents. And 99% of the time the driver is found, usually within a few hours. Why do they do it? It's a mystery to me.

[prakhonchai nick]

Condolences to family and friends.

It really is high time that ALL drivers fleeing the scene following ANY accident, regardless of death, damage or injury should be sought and a prison sentence automatically imposed along with any other penalties they may incur as a result of the accident.

Edited by prakhonchai nick, 2012-02-02 09:45:48.

[BKKBrit]

Tragic. Senseless waste of life. Condolences to the five families.

[vahack]

Thailand roads are not safe.

I repeat for the white people looking to visit here - Thailand roads are not safe.

Every single road in the Kingdom is crazy dangerous. I risk my life driving my car 15 minutes to Macro. At least 10 speeding pickup trucks, buses, or 10-wheelers fly past me on every trip (at 130-150km+).

Thailand roads are not safe.

[stefan2519]

Very sad to hear!

[dsprtliving]

TomTao, on 2012-02-02 09:40:35, said:

Why are we seeing so many reports of fatal accidents around Phuket recently? Shame there is not a more in depth report into the cause of the accdent. Too young to have their lives ended in such a tragic way.

I wonder what the statistics are for road accident fatalities are in Thailand or how many we don't hear about from the Thai news. Very sad story and a very senseless loss of life.  The truck driver should be brought up on charges of manslaughter, if he is even caught.

[TheKeeNok]

Many people falsely beleive that we will all live into old age after having lived a full life and then slowly fade into eternal rest.  It clearly is not true.  Death plays hardball.

[dsprtliving]

vahack, on 2012-02-02 09:49:17, said:

Thailand roads are not safe.

I repeat for the white people looking to visit here - Thailand roads are not safe.

Every single road in the Kingdom is crazy dangerous. I risk my life driving my car 15 minutes to Macro. At least 10 speeding pickup trucks, buses, or 10-wheelers fly past me on every trip (at 130-150km+).

Thailand roads are not safe.

Agreed!  I spent the last 2 years behind the wheel while living outside of Bangkok and I eventually lost count of the near death experiences I narrowly escaped.  Most of the time it was the commercial vehicles (buses, trucks, and vans) I had to watch out for as the majority of the drivers operate their vehicles like they were in Formula One.  

[JasonBrettHerrin]

From the pics it look like the truck was on driving on the wrong side... very sad...

[djvolak]

Rest in Peace.

[supaprik]

Hurricane51, on 2012-02-02 09:41:24, said:

"...Police are now hunting the driver, who fled the scene."

It seems this is true in the majority of tragic motorway accidents. And 99% of the time the driver is found, usually within a few hours. Why do they do it? It's a mystery to me.

I personally think the reason most flee the scene is that they are high on something, talking with a few people that are "alledgedly in the know" with some logistic co's many drivers take on double shifts and are at times put under extreeme presure to cover absentee drivers, these Thai people I chat to about this say that having drivers on the roads with speed/yabba and other drugs in their bodies is common place, although they know of this when asked why do they tolerate this type of behaviour from companies/drivers you get that blank stare. my condolances to all the familes concerned, a shocking tragedy....R.I.P

[queanbeyan]

Sad news, loss of young life.  Road accidents are tragic - even more so when they take people at such an age.  I agree that harsh penalties should be in place for those who flee the scene of an accident - imagine if one of the victims could have been helped if only the fleeing driver cared to assist.  As was mentioned earlier these accidents happen in every country - but I hear of more of them in Thailand.

[katabeachbum]

RIP, Vila i Frid

an excellent dual lane highway, been driving it more than 100 times, wonder how it could happen?

a whiteplated car, thus not a legal taxi, with driver from Isarn 1300km away

as for road casualties, in Phuket its down to 1/3 of what it used to be a decade ago, despite double the traffic