11 victims injured in collision after car drives against traffic flow

A 21 year old man caused a six-car collision on a road in Bangkok by driving his Volvo hatchback against the flow of traffic and crashing into a pickup on Christmas Day. Eleven people were injured as a result of his actions. The result of the suspect’s alcohol and drug test has not been made public.

Pattheera Datepae, a relative of one of the victims, today spoke to Khaosod about the incident. Pattheera explained that her relative was driving a pickup on the Chalong Rat Expressway at 7am on Christmas Day when they collided with a Volvo hatchback that was travelling against the flow of traffic.

Four other cars behind the pickup could not stop in time and crashed into the pickup and Volvo causing a huge collision.

Pattheera said that her relative, who was the driver, and another passenger were seriously injured. The passenger suffered a broken ribcage and leg, and the driver suffered fractured ribs and punctured lungs. They were patients in a hospital emergency room from December 25 until they were released yesterday, January 10.

Pattheera revealed that nine victims from the other four cars were injured in the accident too. Two of them were 11 and 12 year old girls.

The rescue team reported to the media that the Volvo driver was a 21 year old man and he was seriously injured in the accident too. He lost consciousness and was sent to the hospital, but his present condition has not been updated.

The father of the suspect driver went to all of the hospitals to meet the victims and promised to compensate them. He also insisted that his son was not drunk. He believed his child was travelling home but lost his way.

The father also allegedly urged the victims to keep silent and avoid giving information to the media.

The identities of the suspect and his father have not been revealed.

Khaosod reported that the father was a doctor serving the Royal Thai Navy while his son is a talented national athlete.

Pattheera said every victim filed a complaint at Expressway Police Station 1. The police ordered the Volvo driver to take an alcohol and drug test at the hospital but the result has not yet been made public.

According to Khaosod, the police will question the victims and the Volvo driver again this week.