Northern Thailand

5 Year Old Australian Girl Killed in Tragic Motorcycle Accident in Northern Thailand

Sonya, aged 5 was killed in a motor cycle accident on Monday 18th January, 2016.

NORTHERN THAILAND – A five-year-old Australian girl and her Thai grandmother were tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Northern Thailand, the little girl was on holiday from Australia to visit family.

Litte Sonya Davis from Australia, was visiting her grandparents at their north Thailand farm for the school holidays with her parents George and Somepong Davis and her six-year-old brother Justin, and was scheduled to fly home the same day she was hit by a car.

Sonya and her grandmother were riding a motorcycle to the local market on January 18 and when they tried to turn right they were hit by a car from behind, throwing them both off of the bike and into the road.

Her grandmother died immediately and Sonya was critically injured and rushed to the hospital where she was placed on life support before she died on Friday, five days later.

Sonya’s parents now desperately want to bring their little daughter’s body back to Australia where she was born and to bury her in Byron Bay Cemetery where they can visit her regularly.

We are seeking financial support to repatriate Sonya’s body and cover the associated funeral costs in Thailand and Australia to help Sonya’s family grieve and heal and minimise their financial distress. We estimate that the overall costs will be at least $15, 000 which also includes a contribution towards helping them take some time off work to grieve the loss of their precious daughter.

A MyCause page created to help raise money for the funeral costs of Sonya and her grandmother and to bring Sonya home has raised $14,070.

‘We estimate that the overall costs will be at least $15, 000 which also includes a contribution towards helping them take some time off work to grieve the loss of their precious daughter,’ Ana said.

Sonya’s family is asking for financial help to bring Sonya home for a funeral – Click Here to Donate

Meanwhile, in Phuket a New Zealand woman has lost her life in a tragic motorcycle crash in Thailand just hours after winning her first Muay Thai bout.

Ariana Brown died in the early hours of yesterday morning when the bike she was riding in Phuket appeared to have missed a bend in the road.

The mother of two sons in their 20s, from Motueka, had on Friday night won her first Muay Thai fight and had been out with friends celebrating.

One of Ms Brown’s friends, New Zealander Ash Gibson was riding a few seconds behind her and was quickly on the scene.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed the “tragic death of a New Zealander in Phuket as a result of an accident”.

“Consular advice and support is being provided to the family in New Zealand,” he said.

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.

Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.

When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.

The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.

Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.

She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.

The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.

Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.

According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.