A 22-year-old university student has been charged with three serious offenses after his powerful BMW slammed into the back of a delivery rider, killing him instantly on a road in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district.
The accident occurred at 1am on April 30 on the Bang Khan-Chiang Rak Road in Khlong Nueng sub-district. CCTV footage of the incident shows the luxury sedan travelling at high speed before plowing into the motorcycle without any sign of braking.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the driver appeared to be in an intoxicated state and was arguing with rescue workers as well as a group of delivery riders who had come to assist. Khlong Luang police officers eventually arrived to control the situation and took the driver and his passenger to the Khlong Luang police station.
The victim's body was sent for autopsy at Thammasat University Hospital, while the driver's alcohol test results revealed a level of 93 mg/dL, which exceeds the legal limit by a large margin.
Police charged the student driver with reckless driving causing death, driving under the influence of alcohol and damaging the property of others, before granting bail during the investigative stage.
A friend of the deceased stated that, prior to the accident, the victim had ridden his motorcycle out of a restaurant and was about to make a U-turn. He was riding in front of the car in question, which slammed violently into the rear of his motorcycle.
Pol Lt Col Suchai Saengsong, the deputy superintendent at Khlong Luang police station, revealed that investigators have scheduled appointments with eyewitnesses and the victim’s relatives to provide further testimony.
He also confirmed the student's blood alcohol test result exceeded the legal limit, noting that the perpetrator has negotiated an initial compensation payment of 100,000 baht to the victim's family.
The victim’s sister described her brother as the family's main breadwinner, who supported both their elderly parents and his young son. He was believed to be heading home on his usual route when the crash occurred.
Funeral rites are being held at Suan Kluai Temple in Saraburi, with the cremation scheduled for tomorrow.
A site inspection by reporters revealed that the area is currently undergoing road repairs, causing traffic diversions. Lighting in the area is also limited.
The tragedy has sparked a strong reaction from the student community. The student committee of the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) at Thammasat University issued a statement expressing condolences and condemning drunk driving and speeding.
Similarly, the Thammasat University Student Union (Rangsit Centre) released a statement opposing drunk driving in all forms and calling for a transparent legal process to ensure justice for the victim's family.
