Drunk pickup driver crashes into family and blocks medical aid
A 70 year old drunk Thai man crashed his pickup into a motorcycle carrying a family of four on a road in the southern province of Phatthalung and obstructed rescue workers from providing medical assistance to the injured.
The Phatthalung Rescue Foundation responded promptly to the incident, which occurred on Manora Road in the Kuan Maphrao district on the night of Wednesday, April 16. The elderly driver, identified as Jamlong, collided with a motorcycle ridden by 51 year old Thanawut.
Thanawut was travelling with his 30 year old wife, Sunisa, and their two sons. All four sustained minor injuries, except Sunisa, who experienced severe pain in her back and hip. She collapsed on the road and was unable to move due to the discomfort.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Jamlong began causing a disturbance and attempted to obstruct rescuers from assisting the victims. Reportedly heavily drunk, he insisted that the rescue team should not transport Sunisa to a hospital and demanded they wait for police to arrive and investigate the scene first.
A verbal altercation ensued between Jamlong and the rescuers until police arrived and brought the situation under control. Only then was the rescue team able to proceed with their work.
Following treatment, Thanawut informed police that he and his family had been returning home after attending a Songkran celebration when Jamlong struck the rear of their motorcycle. The driver then reportedly parked his vehicle approximately 50 metres from the scene.
Thanawut stated that Jamlong attempted to shift the blame for the accident, claiming it was minor and urging the family not to go to a hospital.
Jamlong was taken to the police station for an alcohol test, which returned a positive result. However, the specific alcohol level was not disclosed to the public.
He was subsequently charged under Section 390 of the Criminal Code for reckless driving causing injury to others, which carries a penalty of up to one month in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.
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