Late night party blamed for major road incident east of Bangkok

PHOTOS: Khaosod English

Police are still investigating the events that led up to a major traffic incident last Friday. A woman in Samut Prakan, east of central Bangkok, has been seriously injured after crashing her pickup truck into a power pole, causing a series of incidents. The driver, 25 year old Siriprapha Photmoo, remained unconscious in hospital over the weekend. Police and relatives say she had been at a year-end party the previous night and had little sleep.

The accident occurred after she crashed her pickup into a power pole on Sukhumvit Road, knocking it down, in front of Samut Prakan Technical College. That pole dragged down about 10 other poles and blacked out a large chunk of the adjacent suburb. Some of the poles hit other vehicles and injured passengers and passers-by. No deaths have been reported at this stage.

The resulting traffic jam stretched for 10 kilometres.

Twenty-three year old Jariya Pinchaeng, a passenger who suffered a cuts to her face and chest pains, told The Bangkok Post… “My friends and I were sleeping. My older sister Siriprapha was driving. I woke up after the accident… I think she (the driver) dozed off.”

Siriprapha was taking herself and four passengers home to after visiting her boyfriend at Khlong Dan prison on Friday morning. Her mother, Wichuda Morakot, said her daughter may well have dozed off at the wheel. She had been at a party late into Thursday night and left home about 6am on Friday.

Wichuda says she understands the extent of the damage the accident has caused.

“The family is poor and jobless, and couldn’t even afford the trucks’s annual tax and mandatory insurance, but would do their best to pay compensation.”

“I am deeply sorry about what happened. No one would wish it. I’m speechless, knowing well that my child was wrong.”

Wichuda said Siriprapha suffered severe internal injuries and bleeding, over and above the swollen face and bruises that were clearly evident.

Security footage showed the truck failing to slow down for a curve and running up onto a footpath.

Medical staff have told local media that Siriprapha would be ready for questioning within a week. She will be charged with reckless driving causing injury and damage, and operating a vehicle with expired registration and without compulsory insurance, police said.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post