Rider Dies When Fireworks Explode Motorbike

A motorcycle seriously damaged after illegal fireworks exploded, killing one rider and injuring the other Wednesday night on Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Road in Bangkok’s Thawi Wattana district.

BANGKOK — A college student was killed and another injured in the Bangkok suburbs last night after homemade explosives they were transporting by motorcycle accidentally exploded.

The two students were on the way back from buying “ping pong bombs” in Pathum Thani province, which they likely put under the bike’s seat, when they hit a bump on the road, and the bombs exploded, Col. Samart Promchart of Thammasala Police Station said.

“The victim probably carried the explosives under the seat before they got blown up due to road bumps,” Samart said.

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Update: Second student dies, police raid fireworks shop


A witness driving behind the victims said sparks were seen coming from the bike before it exploded, throwing the two riders in different directions. Samart said it was not immediately clear how much Teppitak was carrying, but that traces of the ping pong bombs were found at the scene, he added.

The driver was identified only as Teppitak, 17, a second-year student at Thongsuk College. He died at the scene, while his friend, 20-year-old Natthawut, was wounded in the blast and sent to Thon Buri 2 Hospital.

The incident took place on Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Road in Bangkok’s Thawi Wattana district at 10.30pm on Wednesday, the night of the Loy Krathong festival. Fireworks are commonly used to celebrate Loy Krathong.

All too frequent deaths and injuries mean authorities usually announce crackdowns on sales each year, to limited success.

Teppitak had tried to buy firecrackers closer to home, Samart said, but as Bangkok was strictly enforcing a ban on sales during Loy Krathong, he had to travel to the northern outskirts to buy them.

On Tuesday a small firework injured three children, between 11 and 14, in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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