Abhisit in string of road mishaps

General News - Wednesday December 19, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Abhisit in string of road mishaps

MANOP THIP-OSOD and AP

Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva suffered a string of mishaps yesterday, having to change several cars during election campaigning, only hours after he escaped unhurt from a car accident.

Mr Abhisit was in the back seat of a BMW sedan travelling through Saraburi province when his vehicle was hit by a small truck pulling out of a gas station in Kaeng Khoi district 10 minutes after midnight 00.10am.

Mr Abhisit was asleep in the car and had woken up shortly before the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt.

''I got a bit of a knock,'' Mr Abhisit told AP Television News. ''I think I was lucky because the car was hit very hard.''

The Democrat leader, who is among the front-runners to be the next prime minister, complained of a minor headache but had no other serious injuries.

The accident occurred as Mr Abhisit was on his way back from a campaign stop in the Northeast.

He continued on with his election campaigning in Bangkok where the bad luck appeared to follow him.

After the accident, Mr Abhisit was transferred to the van of party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai heading back to Bangkok. The van broke down a little later and he had to be driven to the capital in another car.

In the morning, another van which the party had prepared for taking him to meet voters in Bangkok developed engine problems. Mr Abhisit was forced to switch to his Mercedes-Benz. While driving along the expressway, his car's brakes jammed, prompting Mr Abhisit to change cars again.

The Democrat leader said he did not think the accident and the subsequent vehicle breakdowns were ominous signs for the party in the upcoming election.

Some Buddhist amulet collectors have already been asking what amulet Mr Abhisit was wearing, which they think may have helped save the politician's life in the accident. Mr Abhisit said he was wearing an amulet but did not know which temple it came from.

Meanwhile, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana party leader Chettha Thanajaro was yesterday diagnosed with herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, probably caused by a hectic campaigning schedule and lack of rest.

A high fever and a rash prompted Gen Chettha to cut short the party executive meeting early yesterday afternoon. He had just returned from election campaigning in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Bangkok Post