Bicyclist struck by car, killed in Destin
DESTIN — A 20-year-old Thai woman who just arrived in the area on a summer work visa was killed while riding her bicycle on U.S. Highway 98 Thursday morning.
Her tragic death shined light on a growing problem — she is the third young, foreign worker killed on a bike on U.S. 98 in less than two years — and sparked advocates to call for action.
Parichat Chatmas arrived in Destin from Bangkok, Thailand, on a J-1 cultural exchange work visa on March 14, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Thursday morning, she was on her way to work at McDonald’s in Miramar Beach.
She had just left her home on Vinings Way Boulevard and was trying to cross U.S. 98 when a pick-up truck struck her, the Sheriff’s Office reported. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly after.
“I’m deeply saddened by this news,” said Destin United Methodist Pastor Barry Carpenter, an advocate for the workers. “I feel some connection to these students. They are a part of our church family. It’s been a very sad day for me.”
The summer work visa program draws over 600 young, foreign workers to Destin and surrounding communities each spring and summer.
Without public transportation, most rely on bikes to get to their jobs, but they are often unfamiliar with the laws and practices for safe bike riding in America.
They are getting hit much more than anyone would like to think about, Carpenter said.
In addition to the fatalities, dozens more have been injured or involved in minor accidents, he said.
Another young man on the visa program was struck shortly after Chatmas, but the accident was minor, he said.
For the past three years, Carpenter’s church has provided over 200 bikes, helmets and lights to the workers.
They also host free weekly meals to talk about any problems the workers might face. Often their sponsors are not taking the best care of their employees, Carpenter said.
Bike safety has long been an issue, he said.
“We’re always talking about safety, but this is making me take a hard look,” he said. “We need to do more.”
He and other advocates would like to see county and city officials and local businesses come together to form a long-term plan to address the problem.
Most importantly, the workers need to be educated, said Tim Krueger, a Destin financial advisor and bicyclist.
“We do a great job letting people know about the perils of rip currents, but we are terrible about educating people on this peril,” he said.
In past years, Krueger has tried to help by asking businesses who employ the workers to post flyers about bike safety.
Carpenter said it is time for locals to address the problem so no one has to call home and tell these kids’ parents that their son or daughter came to the U.S. and got killed.
“They are our responsibility because they are here in our city and they work for us, they serve us,” Carpenter said. “This is the way to share the American spirit, by making sure they are taken care of and that they are kept safe.”
At least three J-1 visa workers have been killed in bike accidents on U.S. 98 in less than two years: - March 27, 2014, in Destin - Parichat Chatmas, 20, Thailand
- Oct. 15, 2013, in Miramar Beach - Kamonthip Huaihongthong, 23, Thailand
- May 21, 2012, in Santa Rosa Beach - Galina Bumbalova, 19, Bulgaria Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Sage Reinlie at 850-315-4443 or lreinlie@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRnwfdn.