A Russian husband was killed and his wife critically injured when they were struck by a motorbike while crossing the street in Thailand.

The tourist, not named in reports, and his wife Zhanna Dzhurova, 44, were holding hands as they walked on the zebra crossing on Jomtien Second Road in lawless 'Sin City' Pattaya, on January 29.

A Thai driver named Akaradech, 34, had stopped to let the couple cross when a speeding big bike driven by a tourist Artem Avdeev, 26, rammed them. The pedestrians and motorist flew in different directions, sparking panic among passers-by.

Police said they received a report at 11:30 pm. They arrived with medics at the scene, where they found the smashed up KTM 1200cc motorcycle.

They administered CPR to the unconscious and bloodied Russian husband, but were unable to revive him. His wife Zhanna and the motorcycle rider Artem were rushed to a hospital with severe injuries.

Police Captain Sanan Khotanon of the Pattaya City Police Station said: 'We have documented the evidence and will review CCTV footage to prosecute the motorcycle rider.'

Thai driver Akaradech said: 'I saw the couple crossing on the pedestrian lane, so I gave way. At that moment, I heard a big bike approaching behind me with its engine revving. It crashed into the tourists and flung them in different directions. I called the police because they all weren't moving.'

The accident is among many involving tourist drivers disobeying traffic rules in Thailand.

On January 21, British backpacker Ronnie Stanley Gillette, 22, was fined for pulling wheelies on a rented motorcycle in Krabi province.

On January 2, American tourist Philip Edward MC Morrow, 37, reportedly killed a pedestrian while speeding on his dirt bike in Chiang Mai province. He was said to have been racing across the road when he struck villager Kia Sae-wang, 67, as she was about to buy dinner. Police detained the 'deeply remorseful' driver at the police station to face legal action.

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.