Motorcycle Kills Road Safety Petitioner in Pathum Thani

Local residents and officials gather signatures for a pedestrian safety petition across the street from where a woman was killed by an oncoming motorcycle in Pathum Thani, 15 July 2015.

PATHUM THANI – A woman was run over and killed by a motorcycle moments after she signed a petition calling for improved pedestrian safety in Pathum Thani province yesterday.

According to police, the motorcyclist crashed into the 54-year-old woman, Lanchakorn Chanklom, while she was walking across a zebra crossing on Rangsit – Pathum Thani Road at around 11am. The motorcyclist was identified as a university student, who was also injured in the accident and has been sent to a hospital.

The incident took place close to where local community leaders and residents were gathering to sign a petition calling for a pedestrian bridge to be built over the road to prevent injuries and deaths.

According to Somjit Taethaisong, deputy chairman of Bang Poon Subdistrict Municipal Council, Lanchakorn came to the table set up by the residents to sign her name and then crossed the road to head home. Just as she was crossing the road, the motorcycle crashed into her, launching its rider off the bike.

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Lanchakorn reportedly died at the scene. Police said they will interrogate the university student at the hospital as soon as she is able to speak with police.

Kampol Poolcharoen, deputy chairman of Soi Sukkhee 2 community administration, told reporters this is not the first accident that has happened on that stretch of road. 

"In this spot, many pedestrians have been crashed and killed by cars," Kampol said. "Just last week, a car crashed into someone and that person died. Today, the community council came out to collect signatures of supporters for a pedestrian bridge. Yet one of our supporters was killed in a crash. I'd like to beg all relevant agencies to give their assistance, because I don't want to see people getting injured or killed in this spot anymore." 

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Approximately 14,000 people are killed in road accidents annually in Thailand. 

 

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