Phuket Food Delivery Rider Dies After Motorcycle Crashes Into Uncovered Drainage Pipe

A 19-year-old food delivery rider died in Phuket after his motorcycle crashed into an exposed drainage pipe at a road construction site in Wichit. Police are investigating whether negligence by the contractor responsible for the work contributed to the fatal accident.

Wichit Police Station received a report of the crash at around 5pm on September 1. The victim, identified as Teeraphat, was reportedly a university student who worked as a food delivery rider during his free time.

Emergency responders took Teeraphat to Dibuk Hospital following the accident. Despite medical treatment, he later succumbed to his injuries.

Police investigation and CCTV footage from the area indicated that Teeraphat had been riding a blue Honda Wave 110 motorcycle towards the Naka Shrine intersection. As he reached a section of road where drainage work was in progress, his motorcycle struck an uncovered drainage pipe, causing him to lose control and crash.

The impact left the young rider seriously injured, and he was taken to hospital for treatment. However, his condition later deteriorated and he died.

Police are preparing to question the contractor responsible for the construction site. Investigators will determine whether proper safety measures were in place and whether any negligence contributed to the teenager’s death. If the investigation establishes that the contractor’s negligence caused the fatal crash, he could face a charge of causing death by negligence.

Under Section 291 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, causing death through negligence can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht.

The fatal Phuket motorcycle accident comes amid several other incidents in Thailand involving uncovered or damaged drainage systems. Last month, a street sweeper in Bangkok fell into a drain while working. She reportedly stepped on a drain cover before suddenly falling through it. Her colleagues did not immediately realise what had happened and later began searching for her after noticing that she was missing.

Rescuers spent around 30 minutes removing the woman from the drain before taking her to hospital. At the time of the report, authorities had not confirmed the exact cause of the accident or established whether it was connected to a defective drain cover or possible negligence by a construction contractor.

Another similar incident occurred in Phuket when a Russian tourist was injured after his leg became trapped in a drainage system. Police and local residents eventually managed to free the tourist before he was taken to hospital.