Thai man claims unawareness after driving 30km with body on roof
A Thai man yesterday fatally struck a pedestrian with his hatchback in the Isaan province of Surin and drove 30 kilometres with the body on the car roof, claiming he was unaware of it.
Officers from Chom Phra Police Station contacted officers at Tha Tum Police Station yesterday, November 24, to intercept the hatchback, with registration number กฉ 1079 Samut Prakan, after receiving reports from witnesses and motorists who spotted the body and blood along the road.
Police located the vehicle travelling at high speed and ignoring requests to stop. Officers and rescue teams pursued the hatchback, eventually stopping it 30 kilometres from the crash site.
Witnesses stated that the vehicle struck the victim, who was crossing the road. The driver did not stop to check the accident and continued driving with the dead body on the roof.
The driver was identified as 56 year old Teeraphat Leerun. He claimed poor street lighting made it difficult to see the road and suspected he hit someone but did not stop to verify. He stated he was unaware the body was on the roof and did not realise how far he had driven.
The deceased was reported to be a 46 year old Thai man named Weeraphong Suksawaeng. His body was returned to his family for funeral arrangements.
The report did not clarify whether Teeraphat was made to take an alcohol or drug test. It also omitted details of any legal charges or penalties against him.
In a related story, a 74 year old Thai driver admitted to colliding with a motorcycle in the northern province of Phetchabun. The driver claimed that headlights from an oncoming car temporarily blinded him, leading to the crash.
Unaware of the collision at first, he later realised he dragged the victim’s body and stopped to remove it. He left the body outside a house near the crash site. The driver claimed he did not intend to abandon the lifeless body or cover up the accident and was prepared to surrender to the police.
