A 17-year-old student was killed by a palm-harvesting sickle protruding from a motorcycle sidecar while on his way to school in Surat Thani.
The tragic accident was reported to Chaiya district police about 7.34am on Monday.
Emergency workers found Chitsanuphong Ruangsawat, 17, a Year 12 student at Chaiya Wittaya School, lying dead on the edge of a grass verge. He was wearing his school uniform, which was covered with blood. His Honda motorcycle was lying nearby.
Investigators said the teenager had a catastrophic neck wound caused by a palm sickle - the long-bladed knife used to cut plants.
The 63-year-old driver of the sidecar motorcycle was taken for questioning by Chaiya police.
The sidecar had been carrying three palm-harvesting sickles, the long blades and handles extending approximately two metres beyond the front of the motorcycle. Police said the vehicle appeared to have emerged from a house and was turning onto the road as the student's motorcycle approached.
The student's motorcycle hit the front of the sidecar motorcycle. The impact apparently caused one of the sickles to swing violently, striking him across the neck and inflicting a fatal injury.
Local residents said that every morning, groups of four to five palm plantation workers drive sidecar motorcycles through the area with two or three palm sickles protruding one to two metres ahead of their motorcycles. The blades were often uncovered.
