Tourist hurt as high winds knock down power poles
A GERMAN tourist riding a motorcycle along a coastal road in adjacent Samut Songkram province was injured last this morning (May 29, 2018) after strong winds lashed the area and knocked down 11 poles carrying 22,000 volt power lines on to the road, the Thai-language daily Matichon reported.
Mr Thomas Johannes Reinert, 51, was riding the motorbike from Pattaya to Hua Hin along the coastal road in Amphawa district of Samut Songkram province when high winds suddenly toppled the power poles onto the road, with the cables smashing his motorcycle and breaking his left collarbone.
He was rushed to Somdej Phra Phutthaloetla Hospital from this road, which is a shortcut to Cha-am seaside town next to Hua Hin and is popular with tourists.
Two pickup trucks following Rienert were also damaged as power poles fell on them.
The snapped power lines led to a blackout across a wide area of Yi Sarn subdistrict, but senior electricity officials took 8 teams of 50 mechanics to clear the road and reconnect the lines, and it is expected that electricity will flow fully again at 8 p.m. tonight.
CAPTION:
Top: The toppled power poles with an image of the injured German tourist inset. Photo: Matichon
In-text: Mr Reinert being taken good care of at the hospital. Photo: Matichon
Below: Some of the power poles that came crashing down on the Samut Songkram road today. Photos: Matichon
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