A Kuwaiti woman has died after the motorbike she was on crashed in Phuket in the early hours of yesterday morning, January 22. A Kuwaiti man, who was driving the bike, remains in hospital being treated for his injuries.
The Phuket News reports that the accident occurred in Kamala, north Phuket, at around 12.30am. However, the couple was not discovered until hours later when a passing motorist noticed their bike by the side of the road at around 3am.
Atcha Yatiwat from Kamala Police says officers arrived at the scene, on the Kamala – Patong Road, at around 4am. By then, the Kuwaiti nationals had already been rushed to Patong Hospital. Officers round a Honda PCX motorbike in the ditch at the side of the road, along with a blue helmet that had been broken in the accident.
At Patong Hospital, the bike driver, a 41 year old Kuwaiti man, told officers he’d been driving from Patong towards Kamala when the accident happened. His passenger has been identified as a 38 year old Kuwaiti woman who died of her injuries. The extent of the man’s injuries has not been confirmed by police.
According to police, the road surface was dry at the time and there was no indication of the bike emergency braking. However, the road downhill is curved and there was damage to the roadside barrier. In addition, while there were street lights in the area, police say they were not very bright at curves in the road. Officers suspect the Kuwaiti man was not familiar with the road and lost control at a bend.
It’s understood police found marijuana in the bike driver’s bag and he is being tested for drugs and alcohol at Patong Hospital. Officers are currently coordinating with the Kuwaiti embassy to inform the couple’s families.
The latest statistics from Thai RSC, the national road safety organisation, shows that since January 1, a total of 14 people have died on Phuket’s roads, with another 1,604 injured.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
