British pensioner, 74, is killed when he is knocked off his motorbike by a car in Thailand

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A British pensioner has been killed after being knocked off his motorcycle by a car in Thailand

The 74-year-old collided with a white Honda while riding in the busy coastal city of Pattaya on Wednesday morning.  

Witnesses said he appeared to be trying to ride through a gap in the central reservation when the Honda smashed into him. 

Medics said he had bled to death from a head injury and police found blood spilled across the tarmac when they arrived at the scene.  

Crash scene: A British pensioner bled to death in the road after being knocked off his motorcycle (pictured) by a car in Thailand

Crash scene: A British pensioner bled to death in the road after being knocked off his motorcycle (pictured) by a car in Thailand

Crash scene: A British pensioner bled to death in the road after being knocked off his motorcycle (pictured) by a car in Thailand

Collision: The 74-year-old collided with a white Honda (pictured) while riding in the busy coastal city of Pattaya on Wednesday morning

Collision: The 74-year-old collided with a white Honda (pictured) while riding in the busy coastal city of Pattaya on Wednesday morning

Collision: The 74-year-old collided with a white Honda (pictured) while riding in the busy coastal city of Pattaya on Wednesday morning

Onlookers said the Briton appeared to be trying to ride through a gap in a central reservation to turn back on himself when the white Honda smashed into him. 

Police found the British pensioner – who was not wearing a helmet, and was riding in shorts and flip-flops – sprawled on the ground. 

The car driver Somchai Phetchamrat, 34, was waiting at the scene of crash when police arrived.  

The driver told authorities that he could not stop the car in time to avoid colliding with the Briton’s motorcycle.  

Witnesses said the Briton appeared to be trying to ride through a gap in a central reservation to turn back on himself when the white Honda (pictured) smashed into him

Witnesses said the Briton appeared to be trying to ride through a gap in a central reservation to turn back on himself when the white Honda (pictured) smashed into him

Witnesses said the Briton appeared to be trying to ride through a gap in a central reservation to turn back on himself when the white Honda (pictured) smashed into him

Authorities at the scene where the car driver (not pictured) was waiting and told police he had not been able to stop his vehicle in time

Authorities at the scene where the car driver (not pictured) was waiting and told police he had not been able to stop his vehicle in time

Authorities at the scene where the car driver (not pictured) was waiting and told police he had not been able to stop his vehicle in time 

The motorist had been driving from his home to the office when he collided with the Briton, he said.  

‘I could not stop the car and I hit him. My car hit him very hard,’ he explained. 

Police Captain Weerayuth Kangkala said that the initial statement by the car driver appeared to be reliable but he said they needed to check CCTV cameras. They will then decide whether to press charges. 

‘We need to check the CCTV again to cross-check the incident and identify who made the mistake, before we can charge anyone,’ an investigating officer said. 

‘It could be that the car driver should not have been driving so fast near a u-turn point.’