Falang killed at Hua Hin railway crossing

[Bamboo Grove]

Osmo, is that the crossing at the bottom of the street where you walk up to your old bar.

I first thought it was but as SJ mentioned above it now seems to me to be the next one towards the station. The one leading to the golf course.

[chelsea]

I remember walking up to your place when I was over last time, but do not know of the other one as that was the only time I was out that way.

[margaretcarnes]

Regardless of the cause of the accident - does anyone know the name of the victim yet please?

Any death like this is tragic - but the victim may well be one of the community. We should also feel sympathy for the train driver, especially as he may well have been faced with a 'no way out' situation there.

[hhfarang]

We should also feel sympathy for the train driver, especially as he may well have been faced with a 'no way out' situation there.

That's generally true Mags, but three years ago two of our best friends were killed at a Takiab crossing and the train never even slowed before or after the incident according to witnesses, it just kept on barreling towards Bangkok and never looked back. Possibly, the driver was busy with something else or asleep as trains almost drive themselves, but after that incident and living near the very deadly crossing on soi 94 for a year and a half, I think the blame lies squarely on the local authorities when unguarded crossings are involved in fatal accidents.

Frequently, for God's sake, at the crossing where my friends were killed you can't even see the tracks or oncoming trains because they let the weeds beside the tracks become two meters high! I always stop, roll down my windows, turn off the music and listen for a train and have instructed my wife to do the same.

Shame on the Hua Hin Municipality for letting this go on year after year! How expensive can a flashing light, siren, or an automatic gate be?

[Lung Per]

We should not speculate if this is suicide or not..
There can be many reasons and we should not
jump to quick conclusions. And we should
really think about the family...

Disagree.

[Takiap]

I live up soi 6, and on two occasions already, the chap manning the barriers at the railway line has not been present when a train has come through. Fortunately on both occasions, the train drivers have noticed something is amiss, and they've stopped the train. The one time when it happened, everyone continue driving over the line even though the train was sounding it's horn and inching forward. On both occasions, the chap manning the barrier came rushing back to close the barriers so that the train could pass. Now, either the railway authority doesn't consider that to be a sackable offense, or else those two train drivers were kind enough not to report the incident.

What I can't get my head around is why you need a person there to shut the barriers? Why can it not be automated so that when the train reaches a certain point, the barriers come down, and then when it get past the crossing, the barriers go up again?

Oh wait, that would mean less cushy jobs.

[lagojardin]

I believe the poor fellow was an Australian by the name of Greg Dickins or Dickinson, a very pleasent guy who I have played golf with on a few occasions. As to the possibility of suicide, having met the man I would be very suprised if he took his life, most probably a very tragic accident.

R.I.P Greg

[HAPPYGOLFER]

Suicide or not suicide, an easy way of dealing with maybe a small problem, I agree it,s not a suicide because it,s look like the man stopped his car. I,m sorry for his family, and the woman injured.

[margaretcarnes]

I believe the poor fellow was an Australian by the name of Greg Dickins or Dickinson, a very pleasent guy who I have played golf with on a few occasions. As to the possibility of suicide, having met the man I would be very suprised if he took his life, most probably a very tragic accident.

R.I.P Greg

I've heard the same from other expats now. I do agree with HHF earlier - about time something WAS done by the Tessabahn and/or Railway to make these crossings safer. Expats on Soi 102 were talking about installing lights etc themselves at one time, but their local neighbours wouldn't share the cost.
We shouldn't really be shocked by any of the in-action anymore should we? Just be more aware of the need for extreme caution.

Also agree with Amarita - we should not jump to conclusions about what has happened. Cars do stall. Drivers do lose control or black out. The ONLY way these accidents can ever be stopped is by using fully staffed and gated crossings everywhere. Automatic gates aren't enough because pedestrians and bike riders try to duck under or around them. It's the 'fully staffed' bit that won't work, as HHF points out they - and train drivers - will always sleep and go eat.
End of the day it's always down to the difference between Thai and farang in how we value life.

[PET]

The deceased was a very nice Australian by the name of Greg Dickinson, who was especially close to his Thai wife and her son,

The remarks by Lung Per and Bamboo Grove ( A MODERATOR), are, I believe, incorrect and misinformed and have no place being written.If you do not know the facts this is not the time or place to speculate. The MOD got the wrong crossing for making his judgement !!

There is a family to be considered here.

[Bamboo Grove]

Yes, I got the wrong crossing and admitted it.

[Spitfire]

OK, "Lord Pet", can you fill in the blanks then?

How old was he?

Can you provide exact info all the time on all subjects?

Did he have a medical condition that might influence anything?

Why did he manage to stop his car slap bang on the lines?

Fill in the gaps please.

Bamboo Grove was doing nothing more than offering his opinion as a poster.

When are the dip-shits going to grasp that the moderators are allowed to post in a genuine way and what they think, right or wrong?

Sometimes I'm right and wrong too, but don't attract the same flak . They are not some sort of divine spiritual entities endowed with all knowing reference to all subjects.

I know there are those that like to nit-pick, but have a beer and relax.

Taking the f****** piss IMO, sanctimonious ****.

[buksida]

They are not some sort of divine spiritual entities endowed with all knowing reference to all subjects.

I am.

My condolences to the families and friends, and yes, those that made stupid comments and jokes could have been a bit more sensitive but I guess that is the nature of people nowadays.

[Homer]

The first railroads were built over 200 years ago. Railroad companies, governments and citizens have figured out how to make level crossings safe: Eliminate them by putting the railroad on a bridge or in a cut.

"Impenetrable barriers" have been tried on level crossings in the states, don't know about elsewhere. Even if they do come up with a cheap and foolproof solution the cost of retrofitting would be so large that I doubt any elected government would spend the money as long as there were more important ways to spend it.

A famous sailboat designer once said something like: 'The most important piece of safety equipment on a sailboat is the nut on the end of the tiller' (where the tiller is the lever used to steer the boat, and the nut is the helmsman). The answer for safer level crossings is not penetrable barriers, not more or "better" warning lights and sounds. Those exist and don't stop the deaths. Wouldn't surprise me if level crossings with a simple sign have the lowest accident rate per number of vehicles that pass because most people realize it is a Very Good Thing to stop, look and listen. Safety at railroad crossings begins and ends with the person crossing the tracks.

[lomuamart]

Please stop the stupid, insensitive comments that have nothing whatsoever to do with this unfortunate situation or the thread will be locked.
After buksida's polite request to return to topic, this is the final warning.