Motorcyclist killed in collision with wild elephant in Chachoengsao
Motorcyclist killed in collision with wild elephant in Chachoengsao
Bright Choomanee, The Thaiger
July 17, 2024
See link
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/road-deaths/motorcyclist-killed-in-collision-with-wild-elephant-in-chachoengsao
for photo.
A tragic incident occurred when a couple on a motorcycle collided with a
wild elephant late at night, resulting in the husband’s death and the
wife’s injury. The woman, still in shock, reported having no memory of the
event.
Phanom Rescue Radio Centre received a distress call yesterday at 11pm about
a fatal elephant attack in Ang Rue Nai Forest, in the Ban Ang Sua Dam area,
Moo 7, Tha Takiap Subdistrict, Tha Takiap District, Chachoengsao Province.
Rescue teams, along with the village headman, were dispatched to the scene.
There, they discovered a damaged motorcycle lying on the roadside. Nearby,
they found the body of 50 year old Boonmee, lying on his back, wearing blue
shorts and a white T-shirt. His chest bore a fatal wound from an elephant
tusk that had pierced through his back.
Close to the deceased, 35 year old Dorarak, Boonmee’s wife, was found
injured and disoriented. She revealed that she had been unconscious during
the incident. Dorarak recounted that she had been sleeping at home when her
husband came to pick her up for their routine task of collecting rubber.
The area was quite dark as they rode their motorcycle.
Dorarak further explained that upon reaching the accident site, they
suddenly collided with an elephant. She was thrown from the motorcycle and
lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she saw her husband
bleeding profusely but was too frightened to approach him. She sought help
from nearby villagers.
She continued by saying that she called the police but it was too late as
her husband had likely died upon impact with the elephant. Due to her
disorientation and shoulder injury, she struggled to recall the exact
sequence of events but emphasised that the motorcycle was moving quickly
and they couldn’t brake in time to avoid the elephant, reported KhaoSod.
The accident site is within the Ban Ang Sua Dam area, known for the
frequent nocturnal movements of wild elephants. Villagers in this area are
typically very cautious at night due to the presence of the elephants.
Preliminary examinations were conducted on the deceased, and the body was
handed over to his relatives by the Phanom rescue team for traditional
funeral rites.