Bangkok's Body Snatchers

​On this night, well into the late hours, a call came for help with several injured motorcyclists.  At the scene, there were at least four in the middle of a busy intersection.  In front of me, a young Thai woman came out of the crowd to comfort one of the crash victims.   I was working on a photo story of a group of volunteer rescue workers from Buddhist charities.  They are a backup to the city's overburdened hospital-run ambulance fleet, often arriving first on the scene to provide triage or a free trip to the morgue.  This and others have earned the nickname "Body Snatchers," as in the past, rival rescue squads would arrive at a scene simultaneously and then fight over the right to collect the dead.  Most Thais get paid at the end of the month.  Friday night paydays are the worst, with alcohol causing many road fatalities.  Thailand is one of the worst places in the world for death in road accidents.