TF Archives

Thailand Water-Pistol Wars Kill Hundreds Of Motorbike Riders

Author: Jonty Skrufff
Saturday, April 17, 2004
At least 447 people died in Thailand in traffic accidents this week, with many killed in water fights linked to the country's New Year Songkran water festival, when Thai people attack passers-by with water pistols.

"Thais celebrate Songkran by dousing friends, relatives and strangers with water, roadside ambushes are common, as are pickup trucks packed with water-gun-toting revellers," Thailand's AP reported this week.

"Aside from drunk driving, many accidents are caused by people throwing water at passing motorcycles."

In happier motorbike accident news, former Renegade Soundwave producer Gary Smith told Skrufff this week he's now finally on the mend, some 4 months after he came off a bike in Southern Thailand. Breaking his collarbone, he was forced to pay £1,500 to a local doctor who inserted a steel pin which he left protruding 3cm out of Gary's shoulder.

" I had the pin removed last week and the surgery went really well," Gary told Skrufff.

"I haven't got the full use of my arm yet but the operation was fantastic, it went really smoothly," he said.
Tags