Four Danish tourists have spent their first night in Phuket in hospital, after the minivan transporting them from the airport was involved in a head-on collision. According to a Phuket News report, the four are all members of the same family and include two children.
The family had just landed in Phuket yesterday morning, December 11. They were travelling from the airport in a minivan driven by 23-year-old Kittisak Chamrung, who was also injured in the incident.
The collision happened on the single-lane Muang Mai-Baan Para road, in the northern district of Thalang. It’s understood it happened as a result of a pick-up truck travelling in the opposite direction deciding to overtake a vehicle as Kittisak’s van was approaching.
Thalang Police were notified of the accident at around 9.30am and rescue workers from both Paklok Municipality and Kusoldharm Foundation Muang Mai arrived at the scene. There they found a Toyota van which had sustained heavy damage to its front.
On the other side of the road was an equally damaged Ford pick-up truck. The driver, 59-year-old Sonthaya Chatratin, was also injured.
The van’s passengers were named as 55-year-old Joakim Pedersen, 47-year-old Sanne Lund Hansen, 15-year-old Paul Valdemar Lund Pedersen, and 13-year-old Agnes Elisabeth Lund Pedersen.
The family was initially taken to Thalang Hospital and later transferred to Bangkok Phuket Hospital. Police and rescue workers have not disclosed the extent of their injuries or those of the two drivers.
According to Mr Kittisak, he picked the family up at the airport and was taking them to Ao Po Pier on the east coast of the island. He says his van collided head-on with Mr Sonthaya’s pick-up truck as the latter was attempting to overtake another car.
Police have launched an investigation.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
