The meeting, held at Phang Nga Provincial Hall, was attended by Phang Nga Vice Governor Bancha Thanu-in, Phang Nga Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Somchai Suetotrakul, Phang Nga Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phang Nga) Chief Kamolchanok Chiarawiwatwong and other key officials.
The discussion focused on the accident on Tuesday in which two German tourists were struck by a pickup while crossing at a zebra crossing on Phetkasem Rd near Khao Lak Post Office in Tambon Khuek Khak.
The German couple, identified as Phillip David Lothar, 34, and Linda Raub, 32, were seriously injured after being struck by a speeding pickup truck while pushing their one-year-and-eleven-month-old baby Fiete Raub across a zebra crossing in Bang Niang at about 5pm on Tuesday.
The family were initially rushed to Khao Lak Hospital, where the parents were admitted to the intensive care unit. The baby was initially reported to sustain only minor injuries.
The driver of the pickup, identified only as ‘Choei’, 60, remained at the scene and was arrested and charged with reckless driving causing injuries.
The German family are currently being treated at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
Governor Pairot yesterday emphasised the importance of learning from the incident and swiftly implementing safety measures. He ordered the Phang Nga Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to coordinate a visit to the injured and provide support, said an official report of the meeting.
Among the key decisions made at the meeting, the Phuket Highways Office was instructed to repaint crosswalks red and white, add speed bumps, install clearer speed limit signage and fix traffic lights near pedestrian crossings.
The Phang Nga Transport Office, Takua Pa District Office and Khao Lak Police will begin strict enforcement of traffic laws, targeting speeding and undisciplined driving among locals, taxi drivers and other public transport operators.
Takua Pa District Safety Center will meet with local transport operators and safety networks today to establish long-term accident prevention strategies, the report said.
Meanwhile, the Tourism and Sports Office will assign TAC Center staff to streamline emergency medical responses and ensure injured tourists are treated according to their rights and local volunteers will be deployed at high-risk locations, including zebra crossings and tourist-dense areas, to ensure pedestrian safety, the report noted.
“The province will pursue legal action decisively to demonstrate our commitment to tourist safety,” Governor Pairot said. “This incident has impacted the image of Phang Nga’s tourism, and we must act urgently and visibly to restore confidence.”
On hearing of the horrific accident on Wednesday, Governor Pairot dispatched disaster prevention officials, transportation officers and tourism representatives to visit Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where a gift basket was delivered on behalf of the province to the injured tourists. Due to their condition, the visitors could not meet with them directly, the official report noted.
Authorities are treating the case seriously due to its potential damage to Thailand’s tourism reputation. The Provincial Police and Transport Office have also been directed to prosecute traffic law violators to the fullest extent, Governor Pairot said.
Khao Lak Police yesterday ramped up their efforts to curtail speeding along the dangerous section of road, announcing that they netted seven drivers for speeding in broad daylight at just one checkpoint.