Thai cop blames exhaustion after crashing into 2 motorcycles, injuring 3
A Thai police officer in the southern province of Narathiwat blamed work-related exhaustion after crashing his sedan car into two motorcycles, resulting in three injuries. One of the victims is in critical condition.
The accident was reported to officers at Chanae Police Station at about 5.12am on Saturday, January 18. The suspect, who was wearing a police T-shirt, identified himself as a deputy superintendent of the station. His vehicle sustained damage to its front bumper.
Two motorcycles were damaged in the collision, with debris from the vehicles scattered across the road. CCTV footage shared by Channel 8 revealed that the driver of the saloon car failed to stop after the crash, prompting locals to pursue him.
A Thai man and his son, who were travelling on one of the motorcycles, sustained chest injuries. A second man, riding another motorcycle, was seriously injured.
One witness recorded a video as he and other locals managed to stop the officer. In the footage, the witness accused the officer of drunk driving, a claim which the officer denied. The officer also insisted that he did not attempt to flee the scene.
Chanae Police Station later confirmed via its official Facebook page that the driver was indeed an officer from the station, although his position and rank were not disclosed. The statement revealed that the officer did not flee the scene and exited his vehicle to engage with witnesses and victims.
However, it was explained that the officer returned to the police station for his safety, as he was surrounded by angry locals at the scene of the accident.
The police statement did not mention whether the officer had been subjected to an alcohol test, which led to criticism from netizens. Some commenters demanded further clarification, while others expressed disbelief, claiming the CCTV footage clearly showed the officer attempting to flee.
There were no updates provided on the conditions of the three victims in the report.
The officer may face charges under Section 390 of the Criminal Law, which pertains to reckless driving causing injury. If found guilty, the penalty could be up to one month in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.
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