S'porean driver killed in Phuket road accident, her 4 passengers injured

The police were alerted to the accident at 10.50pm in Mueang district. PHOTO: THE PATTAYA NEWS
Ms Renee Ho Jia Hui was killed when the car she was in hit a small bus. PHOTO: THE PATTAYA NEWS
Preliminary investigations showed that Ms Ho lost control of her vehicle while driving downhill, and hit the bus. PHOTO: THE PATTAYA NEWS

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean woman was killed in a traffic accident in Phuket, Thailand, on Friday night (Aug 12) after the car she was driving collided with a small tour bus.

The Bangkok Post reported on Saturday (Aug 13) that the police were alerted to the accident at 10.50pm in Mueang district.

When the police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, they found a badly damaged Toyota Yaris and a small white bus with a broken windscreen, the newspaper reported.

The Bangkok Post reported that Ms Renee Ho Jia Hui, 21, was unconscious at the scene and died on the way to hospital.

Four other Singaporeans in the car were hurt. The Thai driver of the bus and two guides - a Thai and a South Korean - on board were also injured.

All of them were taken to hospital, the newspaper reported.

Preliminary investigations showed that Ms Ho lost control of her vehicle while driving downhill, causing it to hit the bus.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Local media reported that two men and three women (including Ms Ho) were in the car on the way back to their accommodation in the Karon district.

They reported that the injured passengers were trapped and had to be extricated from the wreckage by rescue workers using cutting tools.

The 20-seater tour bus had dropped off a group of foreign tourists at the Patong area and was returning to the Chalong district when the accident occurred.

The area has a steep slope.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has been in contact with the affected Singaporeans and is assisting their families.

It added: "A team from the Singapore embassy in Bangkok is currently present in Phuket to provide consular support on the ground. We offer our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and wish the injured a smooth and speedy recovery."

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