Rescuers claim former transport minister tried to flee accident scene

PHOTO: Saichon Srinuanchan

Thawee Kraikupt, a former transport minister and the father of government MP Pareena Kraikupt, was involved a car crash in Ratchaburi province, just west of Bangkok, that injured a 16 year old boy. His daughter Pareena was recently found guilty of illegally occupying some 700 rai of government land and forced to return most of it to the Agricultural Land Reform Office.

Bangkok Post reports that police were alerted on Saturday afternoon after a car hit a motorcycle at an intersection near a canal bridge. A patrol team was sent to the scene when they learned that the driver had tried to escape. Police found a Mercedes-Benz with Bangkok number plates, blocked by the rescuers’ pickup truck, about 300 metres from the scene.

The Sawang Ratchaburi rescue team was first on the scene. According to their Facebook page, Thawee tried to escape before police arrived.

When questioned, the driver did not get out of the car, but repeatedly told police “I’m Thawee”.

When rescuers, locals and the boy’s mother accused him of trying to escape, he reversed the car and finally got out to see injured boy. The boy, named Ek, had lacerations on his right ankle and toe.

An initial investigation found Thawee had been turning right, while Ek, driving a motorbike, was going ahead to cross the bridge when their vehicles collided. Thawee eventually went to the police station, where he agreed to pay for medical bills and repairs to the teenager’s bike.

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Foundation rescuers told police that while they were applying first aid to the victim and waiting for police, Thawee suddenly tried to drive away, but hit a nearby fence and almost hit them as well. He then turned left to the canal road but their vehicle blocked his path. He honked the horn for it to be removed but police finally arrived.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post