Falling Pole Crushes Bang Saray Security Guard

November 7, 2012

A 48-year-old security guard was killed by a falling electric pole at a condominium construction site. The pole had been planted and anchored by fresh cement. However, the pole’s support was removed prematurely and the toppling pole crushed the guard.

SATTAHIP – November 6, 2012 [PDN]; at 12 noon, a report of a man being killed by a falling high-voltage electric pole was received by Pol. Lt. Narate Boonthee, investigation police on duty, Sattahip police station. He rushed to inspect the scene with the rescue officers of Sawangrojjanathammasathan Sattahip foundation.

The incident occurred at the construction site of the AD condominium Moo 2 Tambon Bang Sarey, Amphur Sattahip, Chonburi province. The 7-story condominium building is under construction and not completed. The fatal incident occurred on the road in back of the building. At the scene, police discovered the fallen high-voltage electric pole about 10 meters long. It was tied to 4 short concrete poles and 2 irons.

The fallen pole was resting on the lifeless body of Mr. Mongkol Thongmak, age 48, the security guard of LKK Security Co., Ltd. His address is at 44/19 Moo 2 Tambon Bang Sarey, Amphur Sattahip, Chonburi province.

When he was struck by the pole, Mr. Mongkol had been sitting on a blue Honda Wave 125 motorbike, license number KHOR SOR CHOR-408 Chonburi. The severe impact of the falling pole fractured the victim’s skull and broke numerous bones in his body, which left a lot of blood on the ground.

Nearby was an orange, Isuzu 6-wheel crane truck, license number 85-2042 Saraburi, hired by the Provincial Electricity Authority, which had been involved in the incident. The crane was using a wire to lift the fallen pole from the body of the security guard. The crane operator was still shaken by the traumatic incident as he talked to police. He was identified as Mr. Somkiet Wongwaen, age 23.

Mr. Somkiet told police he had been setting up the high voltage electric pole, which was planted into the earth to only a 1-meter depth, but the pole was being anchored by freshly poured cement. While waiting for the cement to harden, Mr. Somkiet was using the crane’s boom to hold the pole securely to prevent it from falling.

During lunch time, Mr. Somkiet backed out with his crane truck because he thought that the pole could stand on its own. But the pole toppled over and crushed the security guard sitting on his motorbike.