Man run over by bus in Thalang

Salaeng driver Mr Russadee, who credits his crash helmet with saving his life.

The tour bus that ran over Mr Maitree.

THEPKRASATTRI, PHUKET: A motorbike driver run over by a bus is the latest fatality in a road accident involving a salaeng, or motorcycle fitted with an illegal sidecar.

Thalang Police Duty Officer Adul Nirapai identified the victim as 28-year-old Maitree Kulpor.

Mr Maitree was riding his motorbike at high speed on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound in Ban Muangmai near the Susco gas station when he slammed into the rear of a salaeng driven by 30-year-old Russadee Samae, a native of Pattani.

The force of the impact sent Mr Maitree, who was not wearing a helmet, flying though the air.

He landed 10 meters away in the passing lane, where he was killed instantly after being run over by a double-deck tour bus operated buy the Chaiwut Jaruphan tour company.

There were no passengers on board at the time.

The salaeng, laden with a large cooler full of milk, also carried a 15-year-old boy identified only as Bareng.

Most salaeng drivers on the island eschew safety helmets, but fortunately for Mr Russadee he was wearing one at the time of the accident.

Showing the Gazette where the helmet cracked down the middle from the force of the impact when his head hit the pavement, he said, “Maitree was driving very fast and hit the back of my salaeng very hard, causing me and Bareng to come off. The salaeng ended up about five meters away near the median strip.”

Thanks to the helmet, Mr Russadee suffered only minor injuries to his left ankle. The boy suffered a laceration to his left foot. It required 18 stitches to close.

Bus driver Samai Tongnoppakhun, 35, told police he was unable to stop the bus in time.

Mr Maitree’s body was taken to Thalang Hospital by Kusoldharm Foundation workers.

Police are still investigating the crash and have yet to establish who was at fault.

The crash comes less than five months after an accident on the same road that left two bus passengers dead and 30 injured.

That accident was caused by a salaeng on the wrong side of the road that veered suddenly, causing the bus driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Using modified motorbikes is against Thai traffic law but the laws are rarely enforced in Phuket, which has an average road accident mortality rate of about one victim per day.

from: phuketgazette.net

Paiboon ‘not worried’ about EC ruling

PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising has denied he has ever been involved in vote buying, in an interview with the Gazette.

In a March 19 ruling, Mr Paiboon received a “yellow card” from the Election Commission (EC) for electoral fraud in the Thalang voting district 3 in the PPAO election held last year.

For our original report, click here.

The Appeals Court will now rule on whether or not to uphold the EC decision and order new elections.

Mr Paiboon said he was disappointed with the EC ruling, but added that he was confident the judicial process would give him justice.

“I’m not worried, but I’m tired of working and getting slandered for it. People are playing politics against me,” he said.

When asked if he thought political rival Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra was involved in the ruling, he said he didn’t know.

“I don’t want to think [about that]. My job is only to present my innocence. I want the court to give me justice,” he said.

Mr Paiboon said his work since he was elected almost one year ago would serve as proof of his innocence.

“Had I bought votes, I would have to get my investment back,” he added.

He claimed he had never used his position for personal gain.

“My management of public tenders has been done transparently. Everyone can examine how I’ve worked over the past year. A man’s worth is demonstrated by the results of his work,” he said.

“I believe in the laws of Karma. I believe that the Buddha looks after those with innocent hearts. I believe that good will always defeat evil,” he said.

Mr Paiboon expected the Appeals Court hearing to begin in three or four months’ time.

During the process Mr Paiboon will be unable to work as PPAO president and one of his deputies will assume his responsibilities.

He said he is now working hard to prepare next year’s 700 million baht PPAO budget before the court case begins.

The “yellow carding” of Mr Paiboon has set off waves of speculation across the island about whether the EC ruling is true.

Mr Paiboon comes from a wealthy family of ethnic Chinese Thais who made their fortune in Phuket’s tin mining days.

He was elected to represent Phuket in the Senate in 2000.

Before that was president of the Patong Rotary Club and the Phuket Chamber of Commerce.

Known as a fiscal conservative, he is currently managing director of property developer Phuket Villa Co Ltd and of Phuket Siwalee Co Ltd, local distributor of Singha Beer