PATTAYA — An accident involving a Hong Kong tourist falling from a songthaew on Pattaya Second Road in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, resulted in serious injuries and later death. The driver of this vehicle has already been charged.
The incident occurred on the morning of July 22, a 48-year-old Hong Kong tourist, Mr. Chi Fai Lam, fell from the back of a songthaew (a modified minibus) on Pattaya Second Road in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. He was seriously injured.
Upon receiving the report, Pattaya City Police Station officers contacted a volunteer rescue team to provide immediate assistance. They performed CPR on the man and rushed him to the hospital, but he died later.
Ms. Sriprai, a 56-year-old witness, stated that the songthaew driver refused to stop and help the man, even though people were shouting for assistance. Instead, the driver quickly fled the scene.
Police officials examined CCTV footage and identified the driver, Mr. Thongchai. He told police he wasn’t aware of the incident at all until he later received a call from the bus company.
“I really didn’t know that I had caused a tourist to fall from the vehicle. In the morning, I picked up about 7-8 tourists from the Dolphin Roundabout in North Pattaya, then drove along the beach road and dropped off tourists at the entrance of Walking Street. I checked that all tourists had disembarked and didn’t know when this tourist had boarded. I only found out when the vehicle owner called to inform me. I immediately came to meet the police officers,” Thongchai said.
Officials from Pattaya City Police Station charged him with “reckless driving causing death to others, being a driver causing damage to a person, failing to stop to provide assistance, or failing to identify oneself to the authorities.”
Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phuek-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, has ordered Pattaya Tourist Police officers to facilitate the deceased’s wife, who wishes to take the body back to Hong Kong for religious ceremonies. They will coordinate with the Chinese Embassy on July 23.
Officials will also assist the Hong Kong man’s wife in claiming damages from the songthaew driver. It’s known that there is protection from the Victim Protection Act and voluntary insurance, with coverage of 500,000 baht per policy in case of death.
Additionally, Pattaya Tourist Police and Pattaya City Police Station will call a meeting with songthaew operators to emphasize and establish measures for serving tourists to prevent such incidents.
