Drunk police officer kills motorcyclist in Kanchanaburi

A fatal drink driving accident unfolded in Kanchanaburi, when an inebriated police officer struck a motorcycle, instantly killing the rider. The officer, who was behind the wheel of his pick-up truck, was found with a blood alcohol level of 300 milligrammes per decilitre (mg/dL), six times over the legal limit of 50 mg/dL.

Tha Muang police were alerted to the incident on Sunday around 4pm, following multiple reports from alarmed onlookers at the accident scene located on Ban Tham-Muang Chum road, in Tambon Muang Chum of Tha Muang district.

Police later identified the 48 year old dead motorcycle rider as Daorung Klinhom. Daorung lost control of her blue motorcycle following the collision, leading to her demise and scattering her possessions across the road.

A Toyota pickup truck was found 5 metres away from the tragic scene, with its driver identified as 35 year old Police Sub-Lieutenant Somya Bantaotuk, a deputy superintendent of Kanchanaburi Provincial Police. Pol. Sub-Lt. Somya remained inside the vehicle, fearing potential mob retaliation from the gathered crowd, reported Bangkok Post.

Following the incident, Pol. Sub-Lt. Somya was taken to Tha Muang Police Station for questioning. Security camera footage from the location showed Daorung riding in the leftmost lane before Pol. Sub-Lt. Somya abruptly swerved into her from the fast lane.

Following the accident, Daorung’s remains were sent to Ratchaburi Hospital for postmortem examination. Thidarat Klinhom, Daorung’s daughter, pleaded with the investigating officers not to show favouritism towards Pol. Sub-Lt. Somya because of their shared profession.

In response, Pol. Col. Surayut Mekmungkorn, Kanchanaburi Provincial Police’s superintendent and Pol. Sub-Lt. Somya’s superior assured that a committee had been formed to investigate the case, promising a thorough and unbiased investigation.

In related news, a viral video shows a drunk-driving Buddhist monk causing a traffic altercation. Police charge the monk with drunk driving, and there is a damage settlement pending. Click HERE to read the full story.