Thursday, January 03, 2008

Elephants block road, kill man

CHAIWAT SATYAEM, Bangkok Post
December 31, 2007

Prachuap Khiri Khan _ A herd of wild elephants trampled a Karen man to death and injured his friend near a road in Hua Hin district yesterday.

The dead man was identified only as Bird.

He died of head injuries and multiple broken bones.

Haepo, 19, also a Karen, was treated in hospital for less serious hand and leg injuries.

Mr Haepo told police he was driving a motorcycle with Bird riding pillion. They were on their way home after a night out when they came across the elephants, which were blocking the Hua Hin-Ban Huay Satyai Pala-u road.

He said he tried to go around the animals but an elephant suddenly emerged from behind a nearby bush and charged at them.

As he tried to speed off to escape the attack, he lost control of his bike and it plunged into a roadside ditch.

The other elephants then joined in the attack, inflicting fatal injuries on Bird.

Realising that he could do nothing to help his friend, Mr Haepo ran to save his own life.

He took cover in the nearby woods until villagers came to his rescue.

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