Thai sub-district official accused of hiring scapegoat after hit-and-run
A Thai father accused an official from the sub-district administrative organisation in the Isaan province of Kalasin of hiring a scapegoat to plead guilty after a hit-and-run on November 2 that caused serious injuries to his son.
The father, identified as Tam, revealed to Channel 7 that the accident occurred at around 2.30am on November 2, when his 22 year old son was riding a motorcycle home. The incident took place on Ban Nong Jong Road in the Kuchinarai district of Kalasin.
According to Tam’s son, the black pickup truck veered out of its lane and collided with his motorcycle, causing him to lose consciousness. The pickup then reversed to the spot where Tam’s son was lying. At that moment, a rubber plantation worker witnessed the incident and approached with a flashlight.
The plantation worker reported that upon seeing the flashlight, the driver returned to his vehicle and sped away from the scene.
Emergency services were called to the site and found Tam’s son unresponsive. They administered CPR, after which he briefly regained consciousness. Sadly, he stopped breathing again, requiring further CPR. Eventually, he regained consciousness and was rushed to hospital.
Tam’s son suffered multiple severe injuries, including a ruptured liver, spleen, and colon, along with broken arms and brain bleeding. Doctors advised the family to prepare for the worst as his condition was critical.
Car owner denies
The father reported the incident to Kuchinarai Police Station the following day and offered a reward to anyone who could identify the pickup driver.
Police examined CCTV footage from security cameras and successfully identified the owner of the vehicle.
The pickup truck was traced to an officer working at a sub-district administrative organisation in Kuchinarai.
Police summoned the official for questioning. The officer arrived at the station accompanied by another man, a rubber plantation worker.
The officer claimed that the plantation worker borrowed his vehicle and was responsible for the accident. However, Tam was unconvinced and alleged that the officer hired the worker as the scapegoat.
Tam argued that the plantation worker looked completely different from the driver shown in the CCTV footage. He noted that the worker had a limp, while the driver in the footage did not. Additionally, the driver was dressed neatly, unlike the plantation worker.
As of now, Tam’s claims have not been formally investigated or verified by the police. Fortunately, his son’s condition significantly improved, though he remains in hospital. Tam stated that he already spent over 200,000 baht on medical expenses and warned the suspect to take responsibility for his actions.
