A Chinese tour guide was killed and three others injured when a 20-year-old deliveryman on painkillers dozed off and drove onto the sidewalk at the Pattaya Floating Market.
Lui Mia Oya, a 30-year-old guide for Lucky Express Co., was killed instantly when she was hit and thrown by a Isuzu pickup truck driven by Pattarapong Kanpai of Huay Yai. Pattaya traffic volunteer Damrong Haekrathok and Isuzu passenger Phakwat Pumpuang, 17, both sustained minor injuries not requiring hospitalization. Pattarapong was hospitalized at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Phakwat told police Pattarapong was delivering soft drinks from his family’s Sii Chompoo Kankha shop, but had been taking medicine for muscle pain and a cold and had fallen asleep.
Damrong said he saw the pickup speeding down Sukhumvit Road toward Sattahip and lose control, veering onto the sidewalk and instigating a four-vehicle pile-up. The Isuzu clipped a tour bus carrying students from Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, shearing off its door, which hit Damrong in the leg.
The Isuzu then rebounded, killing Liu and smashing into an RG Transport Co. bus. In the chaos, a Chevrolet Optra, driven by Ruang Janhom, 57, slammed into the back of the bus.
As police tried to sort out the accident, 51-year-old Chalao Kanpai, believed to be Pattarapong’s father, appeared at the scene and tried to convince police he was the driver in the fatal accident. Police brushed off the claim and will press charges against the hospitalized youth.
