Thai man with epilepsy crashes and kills student on Bangkok road

A Thai man with epilepsy yesterday crashed his pickup into a sedan car and two motorcycles on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok, injuring three motorists and killing a university student.

Officers from Phahonyothin Police Station and rescuers from the Portektung Rescue Foundation rushed to the accident scene on Ratchadapisek Road in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok yesterday afternoon, July 18.

Officers found a black Mitsubishi Pajero pickup with damage to the front of the vehicle on the footpath, and a grey Honda City sedan car parked nearby. Next to the saloon car was the body of a fourth-year university student, 23 year old Jatuporn.

Jatuporn was lying face-up in a pool of blood with severe injuries to his leg and head. His motorcycle was destroyed and lying in the middle of the road. Three other motorists suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.

The driver of the Mitsubishi pickup truck, 53 year old Komkrit, was also taken to hospital due to an epileptic seizure. After recovering, Komkrit explained that the seizure struck while he was driving, causing him to lose control of his vehicle.

Komkrit stated that he crashed directly into Jatuporn’s motorcycle, throwing Jatuporn into the air before he landed on the road. His pickup then spun and hit two other vehicles, the Honda saloon car and another motorcycle.

Police have not yet filed any charges against Komkrit, as they plan to question the other injured victims after they have recovered.

A similar accident was reported in June when a 25 year old motorcyclist crashed into a utility pole in Samut Prakan province, near Bangkok, after suffering an epileptic seizure. His girlfriend, who was riding with him, was seriously injured.

Another similar incident occurred in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. In this case, a Thai man had an epileptic seizure while drinking alcohol alone by a canal. The seizure caused him to fall into the canal, and as he was unable to swim, he drowned.