Reckless Bangkok GrabBike rider kills motorcycle taxi man, flees scene

A reckless GrabBike rider crashed his vehicle into a motorcycle taxi rider and killed him on the Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. The suspect fled the scene leaving his drunk, injured passenger with the dead body.

Motorists on Ratchadapisek Road reported the accident to the Sutthisarn Police Station at about 5.30am today. Police officers rushed to the scene near Chao Phaya Hotel together with a rescue team and medical workers from Ramathibodi Hospital.

According to the police report, the red motorcycle, Honda PCX, was spotted overturned in the left lane. Next to the motorcycle was the dead body of a 58 year old motorcycle taxi rider, Phitak Thatsanakun.

Phitak wore an orange jacket No. 19 from the motorcycle taxi rank at Soi Sukhumvit 55. He had a major wound on his head and to his mouth. The police believe that the impact of the crash caused his body to collide with an electric pole, leading to severe injuries and blood loss.

Next to Phitak’s body was 23 year old Phattreeya Opas. She was heavily intoxicated and had wounds and scratches all over her body.

Phattreeya informed the police that she worked in a Soi Cowboy bar. She had gone to another bar in the Rama 9 area after work and booked a GrabBike service in the early hours of the morning to travel home to the Lad Phrao area. The GrabBike rider crashed into the motorcycle taxi at the scene and left her there.

According to the booking information, the GrabBike rider was Chaliao Fairsantier. He serviced passengers in Bangkok with a Honda PCX motorcycle. The registration number was 6กข9458. The investigating police officer reported he would track him down to process a prosecution.

According to his actions, Chaliao is likely to be charged with driving recklessly causing death to another person. This action leads to the imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both according to Section 291 of the Criminal Law.