Speeding Truck Kills British Tourist In Champassak

The driver of a truck trailer has been detained by Champassak provincial police after the vehicle overturned and killed a British tourist in Pakxong district on Tuesday.

The remains of the 30-year-old British national are being held in the morgue at the provincial hospital, Deputy Head of the Champassak provincial Police Office, Major Bounsong Chanthavongsak, told Vientiane Times yesterday.

Major Bounsong said his office had sent a report of the incident to the provincial Foreign Relations Department. The information will be forwarded to the British Embassy in Vientiane, and the company in Thailand that owns the truck.

The truck was carrying a container loaded with timber and was travelling from Xekong province to Pakxe district in Champassak province.

According to Major Bounsong, the incident occurred at around 11.30 am on Tuesday when the truck was descending a hill near to a crossroads at Tad Yeuang waterfall. It was raining at the time of the accident.

“The truck was speeding on the slippery road. It overturned and the container slid off and hit a British tourist who was reading the sign at the waterfall,” Major Bounsong said.

A representative of the truck company had arrived in Champassak and promised to compensate the local community for any property damage, he added.

No decision has been taken concerning the man who was killed as a British Embassy representative has not yet arrived in the province.

According to Major Bounsong, a convoy of three to four Thai trucks carrying containers of timber was making the journey from Xekong province. A second truck also overturned when it reached the spot where the first one had rolled.

The second accident was believed to have occurred because the truck driver lost control when the brakes failed.

Source: Vientiane Times & Photos Lao-dd.com