A British driver was arrested over a head-on crash that killed a motorcycle rider in Thailand.

Lewis Barrett, 19, was reportedly speeding on the wrong lane when his Toyota Fortuner SUV smashed into the oncoming two-wheeler in Pattaya on January 28.

CCTV footage shows onlookers screaming moments before the two vehicles rammed each other, creating sparks from the force of the impact.

The female motorcycle riders, Kultida Boonyarit, 19, and Tassanee Yentathip, 19, were flung into the air and dragged 300ft across the road.

Police said they received a report at 11:06 pm. They arrived with medics at the scene, where debris from the shattered Yamaha Grand Filano motorcycle was strewn on the road.

The officers found both girls seriously injured, with Tassanee's left leg severed by the horror crash. They gave her CPR and rushed her to the hospital but she later succumbed to her injuries.

Police Captain Damchaluay Samkhanying of the local police station said: ‘We have arrested the suspect and conducted an alcohol test, which revealed no alcohol in his system. 

'We have to check security cameras at the scene again to summarise the case against him. The body of the deceased will be returned to her family for a funeral.'

The family of the British dual national, who also has Thai citizenship, arrived at the crash site. They reportedly kept him from speaking to officers and the local media 'because he was still in shock'.

A resident said Lewis had been overtaking other cars at high speed when the crash happened.

Investigations into the case were ongoing, officers said.

Police Captain Damchaluay added: 'Further interviews with witnesses will be carried out to asses the cause of the crash. The family of the victim will be involved in the process to mediate with the driver.'

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.