Phuket –
A devastating traffic accident in the early hours of Monday morning (August 18th) has claimed the life of a 23-year-old man, after his high-powered motorcycle collided with a cement truck and was then struck by two speeding pickup trucks that fled the scene.
The Phuket City Police told the Phuket Express that the incident occurred at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Chalermprakiat Rama IX Road in Ratsada, Phuket City. Police responded to the scene alongside rescue workers from Kusoldharm Foundation.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered the charred remains of a blue big bike, lying in the middle of the road. The motorcycle had caught fire following the collision. Nearby, a stationary 18-wheeler cement truck was found, believed to be the vehicle initially struck.
The body of the motorcyclist, identified as Mr. Atthaphon Boonyuak, was found a short distance away in the rightmost lane. He was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and blue-and-white plaid pants, both torn from the impact. Medical personnel from Vachira Phuket Hospital confirmed multiple injuries and pronounced him dead at the scene.
According to witnesses, the cement truck had been traveling normally when the motorcycle, reportedly speeding, slammed into its rear. The force of the impact threw Mr. Boonyuak onto the road and ignited the motorcycle.
While a bystander attempted to extinguish the flames using a fire extinguisher, two pickup trucks approached at high speed. The first, a bronze Isuzu, struck the fallen motorcycle directly in the center lane. Moments later, a second black pickup truck traveling in the rightmost lane ran over the victim’s legs with force.
Shockingly, neither vehicle stopped to assist. Both fled the scene heading toward central Phuket. Police are now reviewing nearby CCTV footage to identify the two pickup trucks involved in the hit-and-run. Charges are expected to follow once the drivers are located.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of reckless driving and the moral failure of leaving a victim without aid. Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward to assist in the investigation.
