After a devastating collision on the Thai island of Koh Chang, a British family continues to rebuild their lives while the search for American citizen Gregory Yamada, 41, remains active. The incident, which occurred early into their planned 25-day holiday, left all three members of the family seriously injured.
The crash took place on January 22nd 2024, when the family – a 36-year-old father, his 40-year-old partner, and their four-year-old daughter – were walking along a footpath in the early evening. According to the father, a motorbike ridden by Greg Yamada approached at considerable speed before striking all three of them. The impact threw the child into the air and rendered the mother unconscious, marking the beginning of a long medical and emotional recovery.
Emergency responders transported the family and Yamada to a local hospital. The injuries were severe. The mother sustained multiple broken bone fractures in her neck, scalp wounds requiring stitches, and widespread abrasions and lacerations. Their young daughter suffered injuries to her face, eyes, torso, arms and legs, including a deep laceration above her eye that resulted in scarring, a subconjunctival haemorrhage that left one eye entirely blood-red, and a sinus fracture to her skull.
Police later confirmed that Yamada was four times over Thailand’s legal alcohol limit when the collision occurred. He was charged with driving while drunk causing injury to other people, an offence that carries a possible penalty of three to six years in prison under Thai law.
Gregory Yamada was instructed to appear in court following the charge, but did not attend the scheduled hearing. He is recorded a holding both United States and Japanese passports. Immigration records confirm he crossed the border into Cambodia after the incident.
The family returned to the United Kingdom for extended treatment, describing the crash as “life-changing.” The long-term recovery process involved ongoing medical support and emotional adjustment.
After arriving home, the family expressed the view that Yamada’s cowardly disappearance has intensified the impact of the crash, stating it reflects an attempt to avoid responsibility for the devastation he has caused.
The matter remains open, with information relating to Greg Yamada’s movements continuing to be examined as enquiries progress.
