Drunk police officer crashes car into restaurant in Bangkok, 3 in ICU (video)
Three people are seriously injured in intensive care after a drunk police officer crashed his car into a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday night.
The owner of the “Mala” (Chinese spicy hotpot) restaurant in Bang Khen district said they are scared justice will not be served because the drunk driver is a police officer.
At 10.55pm on Monday, officers at Bang Khen Police Station were informed of an accident at a Mala restaurant on Theparak Road in Anusawri subdistrict.
Four people were injured in the crash, three of whom are seriously injured and being treated in an Intensive Care Unit.
The restaurant, owned by 30 year old Puridet Thongnamkaew, was damaged in the incident as well as the property of 33 year old next door neighbour Pongamat Amatayakul.
At the scene, police found a black Honda with a Bangkok registration plate belonging to Pol. Maj. Ekapong [surname withheld], a crowd control police officer.
Officers immediately took Pol. Maj. Ekapong to Bang Khen Police Station and charged him with, “reckless driving causing serious injury, reckless driving causing damage to property and drunk driving.”
Pol. Maj. Ekapong’s alcohol level was measured at 126 milligrams – far beyond the legal limit.
Bang Khen police officers say they would like to assure the victims in this case that the prosecution process will be fair.
Police say they are collecting evidence from the scene and statements from witnesses.
In the CCTV footage, dozens of customers are pictured sitting at tables outside the restaurant when the drunk police officer crashes into the tables at what appears to be a high speed.
Drunk driver Pol. Maj. Ekapong claims that a car in front of him made a U-turn suddenly and he swerved and lost control.
The restaurant owner believes going to the media with this case will help seek justice for the injured.
There is merit to the Mala restaurant’s worries given that another crowd control police officer killed an eye doctor crossing a zebra crossing in Bangkok last year and was sentenced to only one year and 15 days in prison.
