An American hotel director was killed when a truck rolled over his head in a gruesome hit-and-run accident in Thailand.

Gregory George Ludwig, 60, was riding home from work on a Suzuki motorcycle when he collided with the lorry while it was turning into a side street in Phuket on January 11 evening.

The American, who worked for U.S. conglomerate JW Marriott, was knocked off balance and crushed under the truck's tires, with the driver Littikrai Chumthong, 32, allegedly fleeing from the bloody scene.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Sornthip Chukaew of the Tha Chatchai Police Station said officers were notified of the alleged hit-and-run at 7:30 pm local time.

Cops arrived at Thep Krasattri Road, where Gregory's mangled body lay near the sidewalk. He had been wearing a helmet but it offered little protection under the truck's weight.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Sornthip said: 'According to witnesses, the victim had been driving straight along the road when the truck cut in front of him to turn into a side street. The truck sped away without stopping to check on him.'

Authorities were checking CCTV footage to track down the truck driver Littikrai, who later turned himself in at the Tha Chatchai Police Station.

He reportedly told police that Gregory was riding in the lane to his left. He claimed he had changed lanes to turn at an alley, resulting in the accident that killed the American man.

Gregory was the director of recreation at a JW Marriott-run hotel in Mai Khao.

Police said Littikrai was charged with reckless driving causing a person's death.

The accident came just hours after rising Iranian boxing star Fariyar Aminipour, 23, was killed in another motorcycle accident in Phuket.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.

However, a lack of road safety education in schools along with notoriously easy driving tests, police failures to enforce road laws, and chronic under-investment in infrastructure, all appear to hamper the efforts.