Court grants bail to drunk BMW driver in Nonthaburi wrong-way collision
Police rejected bail before court overturned decision
The Nonthaburi Provincial Court granted bail to a drunk BMW driver who drove against the flow of traffic on a Nonthaburi road, causing a pile-up on Monday, September 29.
The driver, 37 year old Paphatsarin, travelled the wrong way for over five kilometres along Ratchaphruek Road at around 9pm on Monday. She collided with a pickup truck, leaving its driver injured. Other motorists, attempting to avoid the crash, braked suddenly, which triggered the pile-up.
According to officers from Ratchaphruek Police Station, Paphatsarin was clearly intoxicated. She reportedly showed no remorse at the scene, saying, “Not that serious, officer. Just a little bit of backtracking.”
Paphatsarin admitted to drinking alcohol before driving, but insisted she had consumed only a small amount. However, her blood test revealed a level of 205 milligrammes per cent, more than four times the legal limit.
The woman sustained a leg injury, prompting police to allow her to seek treatment before summoning her for further legal proceedings at 3.30pm the following day, Tuesday, September 30.
She faces three charges, including:
- Section 43(2) of the Land Transport Act: Driving under the influence of intoxicants, punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of between 5,000 and 20,000 baht, or both. Her driving licence will also be suspended for at least six months or revoked.
- Section 43(4) and Section 157 of the Land Transport Act: Reckless or dangerous driving causing damage to another person’s property, carrying a fine of 400 to 1,000 baht.
- Section 390 of the Criminal Code: Committing reckless actions leading to physical or mental injury to another person, punishable by up to one month’s imprisonment, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.
Paphatsarin arrived at the police station with her lawyer, who applied for temporary release on bail of 80,000 baht. Police rejected the request and transferred her to Nonthaburi Provincial Court for temporary detention.
Her lawyer renewed the bail request in court. The court approved it, citing her need for medical treatment for her leg and the requirement to compensate all victims.
In a media interview, Paphatsarin apologised to the victims and the public. She admitted she was drunk while driving, but promised to provide full compensation to those affected.
Latest Thailand News
Follow The Thaiger on Google News:
