Thai New Year Death Toll Soars to Record High
April 18, 2001 - 0:0
BANGKOK A record 687 people were killed during the five-day traditional Thai New Year festival this year -- a toll of 4.6 deaths per hour -- mainly due to drunken driving, officials said on Tuesday. Careless driving, worsened by consumption of methamphetamines and alcohol, was further compounded by slippery road conditions over the Songkran holiday, which ended on Monday, and most accidents involved motorcycles, officials at the Public Health Ministry told Reuters.