Tourists killed by tractor
Two foreign tourists were killed in Bangkok yesterday after being run over by a government construction tractor on a pedestrian crossing on Larnluang Road, even though they were holding flags used by pedestrians to signal motorists to stop.
The driver of the tractor, Saichol Innork, remained on his vehicle after running over Hanne Karlsen, a Norwegian, and Garry Thomas, a Briton, near the Princess Hotel on the busy street in Pom Prab district, as he feared a mob of bystanders was going to attack him. Saichol, 34, who works for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's public works department, has been charged with causing death through reckless driving. He told police he was not speeding when he approached the crossing and failed to see either of the victims, both 28 years old. Quoting witnesses, Nang Lerng police said the tractor was expected to stop for the tourists to cross the street as it moved slowly towards them. Both victims were using flags made for pedestrians to signal motorists to stop and raised them high when they were in the middle of the street facing the tractor. Saichol only stopped when bystanders began yelling at him, 100 metres beyond the crossing.
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