Boozy alibi: Thai cop blames fatigue after drink driving crash
A Thai police officer in the southern province of Narathiwat, who crashed his car into two motorcycles and claimed exhaustion from work as the cause, had an alcohol level of 213 milligrammes per cent in his system.
The accident occurred on the Chanae-Du Song Yo Road in the Chanae district of Narathiwat at around 5.12am on Saturday, January 18. Security camera footage captured the moment a car collided with two motorcycles on the road, resulting in three injuries, one of which was critical.
In video footage recorded by witnesses, the car’s driver, dressed in a police T-shirt, admitted to being a deputy superintendent at Chanae Police Station but did not disclose his name. He denied being intoxicated while driving, claiming instead that exhaustion from work caused the crash.
Witnesses also accused the police officer of attempting to flee the scene, as he did not stop his car immediately after the collision.
Officers from Chanae Police Station later issued a statement on their official Facebook page confirming that the driver was indeed an officer stationed there. The statement also denied claims that the officer tried to escape, asserting that he had turned himself in at the station following the incident.
According to an update reported by Channel 8, the officer was identified as Police Lieutenant Colonel Somsak. Subsequent tests revealed that he had been under the influence of alcohol, disproving his claim of exhaustion.
The superintendent of Chanae Police Station informed the media that Somsak had admitted to his wrongdoing and had visited each victim in the hospital. Somsak reportedly provided 5,000 baht to each victim to cover medical expenses and pledged to offer further compensation.
The superintendent confirmed that Somsak was charged under Section 390 of the Criminal Law for reckless driving causing injury to another person. The offence carries a maximum penalty of one month’s imprisonment, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.
ORIGINAL STORY: Thai cop blames exhaustion after crashing into 2 motorcycles, injuring 3
A Thai police officer in the southern province of Narathiwat blamed work-related exhaustion after crashing his sedan car into two motorcycles, resulting in three injuries. One of the victims is in critical condition.
The accident was reported to officers at Chanae Police Station at about 5.12am on Saturday, January 18. The suspect, who was wearing a police T-shirt, identified himself as a deputy superintendent of the station. His vehicle sustained damage to its front bumper.
Two motorcycles were damaged in the collision, with debris from the vehicles scattered across the road. CCTV footage shared by Channel 8 revealed that the driver of the saloon car failed to stop after the crash, prompting locals to pursue him.
A Thai man and his son, who were travelling on one of the motorcycles, sustained chest injuries. A second man, riding another motorcycle, was seriously injured.
One witness recorded a video as he and other locals managed to stop the officer. In the footage, the witness accused the officer of drunk driving, a claim which the officer denied. The officer also insisted that he did not attempt to flee the scene.
Chanae Police Station later confirmed via its official Facebook page that the driver was indeed an officer from the station, although his position and rank were not disclosed. The statement revealed that the officer did not flee the scene and exited his vehicle to engage with witnesses and victims.
However, it was explained that the officer returned to the police station for his safety, as he was surrounded by angry locals at the scene of the accident.
The police statement did not mention whether the officer had been subjected to an alcohol test, which led to criticism from netizens. Some commenters demanded further clarification, while others expressed disbelief, claiming the CCTV footage clearly showed the officer attempting to flee.
There were no updates provided on the conditions of the three victims in the report.
The officer may face charges under Section 390 of the Criminal Law, which pertains to reckless driving causing injury. If found guilty, the penalty could be up to one month in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.
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