By NNN-TNA,
Bangkok : Road accidents nationwide left 226 persons dead and injured 2,504 others during the first three days of the dangerous seven-day New Year holiday.
Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Napamornbodi said on Jan. 1, the third day of the extended New Year holiday, there were 851 road accidents, killing 83 people and injuring 909 others.
The major cause of the road accidents, almost 52 per cent, was driving under the influence of alcohol, followed by speeding at 22 per cent.
Motorcycles were the vehicles most involved in road accidents, Dr. Manit said. Most accidents had occurred in the northeastern province of Surin while the most deaths recorded was nine in the northern province of Chiang Rai.
From December 30 through January 1, the first three of the seven dangerous days of the New Year Holiday, 2,329 accidents were reported nationwide and the death toll was recorded at 226 with 2,504 injuries.
Most accidents were recorded at 93 in Surin followed by 83 in Chiang Rai. The highest death toll was reported in Chiang Rai at 14 and the most injuries were 101 in Surin.