Drunk municipal worker causes crash with district chief’s family

A municipal employee, heavily intoxicated, ran a red light and caused a severe accident involving the district chief’s car, which was carrying his family for a Mother’s Day outing. The incident resulted in significant injuries and property damage.

Today, August 14, reports emerged detailing a serious accident that occurred when a drunk driver in a white pickup truck ran a red light at the intersection near the Phen District Office in Udon Thani. The crash, which happened on August 11, left several individuals injured.

The white pickup truck, driven by a municipal employee, collided with a black four-door pickup truck driven by a district chief. The black truck was carrying the district chief’s family, who were on their way to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Following the collision, the white truck crashed through the district office’s wall, causing extensive damage to both the vehicle and the wall. The driver of the white truck survived the crash but the passengers in the black truck sustained serious injuries, with some in critical condition.

Reporters visited the crash site and found remnants of the vehicles and the damaged wall still scattered around. Additionally, there were flowers, incense, candles, and 1-baht coins at the site, likely left by relatives performing a ritual to summon the spirits of the accident victims.

Investigations revealed that the white pickup truck was responsible for the accident, having ignored traffic signals and collided with the black truck. CCTV footage from the Phen subdistrict municipality confirmed that the driver of the white truck was a municipal employee. The driver, identified as Ampai, a general employee at the Phen subdistrict municipality, had reportedly been drinking alcohol at a funeral before the incident.

Drink driving

Witnesses reported that Ampai’s white truck smashed into the black pickup truck carrying Thanapiboon, the district chief of Sang Khom, Udon Thani, along with his wife Wallapa, the deputy mayor and council president of Phen subdistrict municipality, and their children, Pichaya and Kamonpit. All four occupants of the black truck were injured and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

Ampai and his passenger, a young boy named Kritaya, are also hospitalised. The police are waiting for the injured parties to recover before proceeding with legal action and charges.

Kallaya, head of the district office and Ampai’s superior, stated that the accident occurred on August 11 at 1.48pm. She confirmed that Ampai had been drinking at a local funeral before driving and running the red light, causing the crash with Thanapiboon’s vehicle. The district chief’s family was on their way to Nong Khai for a Mother’s Day celebration when the incident occurred.

Kallaya emphasised the seriousness of the situation, noting that Vallapa remains in critical condition. An internal disciplinary inquiry is also underway for Ampai, who remains hospitalised with minor injuries, including head trauma, reported KhaoSod.

“Let this serve as a warning: do not drive under the influence of alcohol. Such actions lead to devastating consequences, affecting innocent individuals and causing significant property damage.”