Wet road conditions are believed to have played a role in a fatal crash on Koh Samui that killed 25-year-old Australian sprinter Jemma Stapleton while she was on holiday with her family, police said.
The accident happened at around 3:45pm on Wednesday on a bend along Highway 4169 in tambon Bo Put, a popular area on the tourist island in Surat Thani province.
Surat Thani provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Suwat Suksri said on Saturday that three vehicles were involved in the crash, which took place during steady rain.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a black Subaru stopped in the middle of the road facing the direction of Chaweng Beach. The vehicle was being driven by a 38-year-old Russian man.
Stapleton, who had been riding a motorcycle, was found trapped beneath the front passenger-side wheel of the Subaru.
A Honda City, driven by a 27-year-old Thai woman, was also found at the scene.
Police later released CCTV footage showing the moments before the crash. According to investigators, the video showed Stapleton’s motorcycle losing grip on the wet road before falling and sliding into the opposite lane as an oncoming vehicle approached.
Police said the impact was severe, with Stapleton thrown more than 20 metres along the road. Her motorcycle continued sliding before coming to a stop in front of another vehicle travelling behind the first car.
A preliminary examination by Koh Samui Hospital found that Stapleton had suffered serious head injuries, including deep lacerations, as well as bruising across her body. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators were told that Stapleton had been riding ahead of family members, who were following behind on separate motorcycles.
Police believe the wet surface and slippery conditions were likely contributing factors in the accident.
Stapleton, from Melbourne, was regarded as a promising athlete who began competing at a young age and steadily progressed through Victoria’s athletics scene.
She later became a finalist in the Stawell Gift, Australia’s oldest and richest professional footrace.
Her death came less than two weeks after she celebrated her 25th birthday on June 1.
A GoFundMe page was later created to support Stapleton’s family with the cost of bringing her body home and to help ease the financial burden following her death.
The fundraiser closed after raising more than $100,000 in less than 24 hours.
