A tragic accident has claimed the life of a young British tourist in Bali.
The 24-year-old victim was riding a rented motorbike on the Singaraja-Kintamani highway, one of the main roads connecting the north and south of the island, when he was hit by a car that was overtaking him from the opposite direction.
The driver of the car, a 54-year-old man named Njoo Pin Tek, did not stop to help the injured tourist and continued his journey towards Kintamani, a highland area famous for its volcano and lake.
He later told the police that he did not realise he had knocked the Brit off his bike and thought he had only ‘grazed’ him after taking a turn too wide.
Bali is a popular destination for British tourists, who make up the third-largest group of foreign visitors to the island, after Australians and Chinese, but has a reputation for being a dangerous place to drive
Many tourists choose to rent a motorbike to explore the island, as it is cheap and convenient, but they also expose themselves to the risk of accidents and injuries
The head of traffic unit for Buleleng police, AKP Bachtiar Arifin, said: ‘(The driver) thought (the biker) was just grazed, because he was positioned from the side. It didn’t feel like he had been hit, so he continued his journey towards Kintamani.’
The police arrested Njoo after tracking down his car from the CCTV footage and witnesses’ statements. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Arifin added: ‘The case is being processed to resolve.’
The Brit’s family are now trying to repatriate his body back to the UK, with the assistance of the British consulate in Bali.
MailOnline contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
Bali is a popular destination for British tourists, who make up the third-largest group of foreign visitors to the island, after Australians and Chinese.
However, Bali also has a reputation for being a dangerous place to drive, especially for inexperienced motorbike riders.
The island’s road system is often congested, poorly maintained, and poorly lit, and the traffic rules are not always followed by the locals.
Many tourists choose to rent a motorbike to explore the island, as it is cheap and convenient, but they also expose themselves to the risk of accidents and injuries.
Hundreds of foreigners die in Bali every year, mostly due to road accidents.
The tragic incident on November 2 came as an Australian tourist who suffered horrific injuries in a similar crash was forced to crowdfund for an emergency flight back to Australia as his insurance company drags its feet.
Jacob Villablanca, from Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast, was was hospitalised after a ‘serious motorbike accident’ which left him unconscious on November 1.
The accident tore the skin and muscle from his shin and left him with bleeding on the brain.
His mum Julie and sister Grace got on the first plane to Bali to be by his hospital bedside, and revealed the family are desperately raising money for his flight back to Australia.
‘The insurance company will not approve it for another four days and that is too long we need to get him back immediately to have surgery on his leg,’ Grace wrote on Facebook.
Jacob Villablanca (right), from Terrigal on NSW Central Coast, was left with horrific injuries after a motorbike accident in Bali on Wednesday
She also shared a graphic photo of the shin showing the skin and muscle torn away, leaving part of the bone exposed.
Friends back home rallied around the family after it was revealed Mr Villablanca requires a ‘SOS’ medical evacuation flight back to Australia.
‘Jacob was found unconscious and transported to a hospital in Bali,’ friend Aimee Kostrubic wrote on a GoFundMe.
‘He is now conscious but has significant lower limb damage and some bleeding on the brain.
‘Jacob has been advised to return to Australia as soon as possible to receive the medical help and surgery he desperately requires.’
Mr Villablanca’s family were told he requires an SOS retrieval flight due the extent of his significant injuries, which costs $68,000.
‘As you can imagine the family are extremely distressed and wanting to return Jacob back to Australia as quickly as possible,’ Ms Kostrubic said.
‘He will require emergency surgery in Western Australia before coming home.’
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
