Irishman killed in Thailand bike crash

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Irishman killed in Thailand bike crash
19/01/2006 - 18:09:13

An Irishman has been killed in a motorbike crash in Thailand, the second Irish tourist to die in a motorcycle accident in the country this year.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said today it was providing consular assistance to the family of the young man, who was killed while in Patong, on Phuket Island.

Another young man died in a motorbike accident in Thailand earlier this month, while a third was severely injured in a crash in Cambodia.

Following the deaths, the Department said riding a motorcycle or scooter in either of the two countries was dangerous and urged people to take the same precautions as they would in Ireland.

While Thai law demands motorcyclists wear a helmet, it is widely ignored, new advice on the Department’s website says.

An average of 38 people die each day in motorbike accidents in Thailand.

According to the Department, the dangers are made worse in Cambodia by roads in poor condition, vehicles with no lights and cattle on the roads.

Overloaded vehicles and erratic driving makes road traffic accidents the greatest danger to Irish tourists in the South East Asian country, the DFA warned.