Community mourns as drunk driver kills two 12 year olds in Thailand
A recent tragedy gripped the local community of Satuek following a fatal traffic incident involving two 12 year old students, needlessly killed by a drunk driver. The accident occurred at 3pm yesterday, when a 67 year old man, identified only by his first name, Banchong, struck the children with his black Mitsubishi pickup truck, leading to their immediate death at the scene.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the mourning relatives of the two young victims, Patharsaya, known as Pai, and Rungarun, known as Ben, convened a ritual to call back their spirits at the site of the accident.
The somber ceremony took place in the early hours today, in the vicinity of Saeng Chan, in the district of Satuek along the Stuek-Jom Phra road. The air was heavy with grief as the parents, who travelled from other provinces where they were employed, struggled to come to terms with the devastating loss.
The online community expressed widespread condemnation after a video surfaced showing the driver, seemingly unfazed, continuing to drink beer following the crash. Witnesses reported that he had overtaken three vehicles at high speed before colliding with the motorbike carrying both girls.
The driver was seen holding a beer bottle as he approached the bodies, brazenly admitting his intoxication, reported KhaoSod.
San Sriwakham, the 53 year old grandmother of Ben, lamented that her granddaughter had only gone out to buy snacks with a friend and did not anticipate such a horrific event.
After being released on bail, the driver attempted to attend the funeral but was hesitant to approach. Chaiyaphon Tako, a 54 year old resident, vividly described the moment of impact that sent one girl flying more than 10 metres into the air.
The 67 year old driver’s wife, Sam (a pseudonym), recounted how her husband had gone out to refuel the vehicle, showing no signs of inebriation when he left. She was aware that he had consumed a bottle of beer and was shocked to learn from neighbours about the fatal accident.
