A Hong Kong police sergeant died after falling from a songthaew open-air pickup truck in Pattaya Thailand on Monday morning.
According to CCTV surveillance footage obtained by police, the man was seen tumbling from the back of the taxi van onto the road in South Pattaya district at 8.36am.
The man was a police officer from Hong Kong, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was certified dead, according to The Khaosod News. It was reported that other passengers shouted at the songthaew driver to stop after the incident, but the driver just drove away.
The driver surrendered later to Pattaya police later in the day, claiming he was unaware that someone had fallen from the vehicle until he was informed by the owner of the vehicle.
The source said the Hong Kong police officer was on holiday with his family and scheduled to return home on Tuesday. He had left their the hotel alone before taking the pickup bus transport.
Police have charged the driver 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. He said They will coordinate with the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok.
He said police 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.
Hong Tourist Falls Off Baht Bus in Pattaya
Songthaews are covered pickup trucks with rows of seats in the rear that transport people along predetermined routes in Thailand. They are a frequent mode of transportation.
“Songthaew” literally means “two rows” in Thai. Songthaews can be found in practically every urban area, as well as on many beaches. Once you understand their itineraries and how to pay for the ride, you’ll probably find them to be a convenient method to get to your location.
In most trucks, passengers sit on long benches without seat belts, and additional safety features like airbags are nonexistent. There may be a lot of people jammed in, and some of them may even be standing or dangling outside the vehicle. Nonetheless, the drivers are suppose to drive cautiously and not drive at excessive speeds.
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Geoff Thomas is an award winning journalist known for his sharp insights and no-nonsense reporting style. Over the years he has worked for Reuters and the Canadian Press covering everything from political scandals to human interest stories. He brings a clear and direct approach to his work.
