Police allegedly misinterpret stroke as drunk leading to man’s death

A family is seeking justice for a Thai man who died from a stroke while driving in Bangkok, resulting in multiple crashes. Police accused him of drink driving and delayed treatment, leading to his death.

A video of the accident circulated on social media showing a black Toyota Fortuner SUV crashing into multiple cars on Charoen Krung Road. The car’s green registration plate indicated it was primarily used for airport services. The video showed food delivery riders attempting to stop the SUV but the driver was unresponsive.

Initially, online speculation suggested the driver was drunk. However, the truth came to light after the SUV driver’s girlfriend, Manao, revealed he suffered a stroke and died in hospital. She blamed Yannawa Police Station officers for their negligence, which she believes contributed to his death.

Manao, with the help of non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, recounted the events. She said her boyfriend, Krit, picked up a passenger from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and delivered the passenger to the hotel in the Bang Rak area on July 13.

While he was returning to the airport, Krit called Manao, complaining of stroke symptoms. He had a headache and vomited. Manao urged him to go to a hospital but his condition worsened, causing the accident.

Manao repeatedly made phone calls to Krit, hoping he would regain consciousness. However, she could hear only people shouting and knocking on the car from outside. Krit was unable to respond.

Police delay treatment

At 7pm, Manao learned from Krit’s mother that he was in police custody for suspected drink driving. Manao informed the police about Krit’s stroke but they did not believe her and allegedly would not provide any medical attention to Krit.

Krit was held for nearly two hours before losing consciousness. He was then rushed to hospital at 9pm by a rescue team. Doctors informed Manao and Krit’s parents that he arrived too late and, despite treatment, died three days later.

Manao believes Krit would have survived if the police had acted promptly and is demanding an apology and accountability.

The founder of Saimai Survive mentioned that the car’s owner, which Krit hit, also urged the police to seek medical assistance, emphasising that Krit was visibly unwell rather than drunk. The driver additionally remarked that he did not detect any smell of alcohol from Krit.

Manao further stated that Krit’s blood is undergoing drug testing. If the results are negative, she intends to seek legal advice to file a lawsuit against officers from Yannawa Police Station. The concerned police officers have not yet stated the incident.