Thai writer seriously injured after being hit on zebra crossing
A 69 year old renowned Thai writer sustained serious injuries after being hit by a pickup truck while using a zebra crossing in Bangkok on Monday, February 24.
Officers from Phlapphla Chai Police Station received a report of the accident, which occurred on a zebra crossing near Disa Nukaram Temple in the Pomprap Sattru Phai district of Bangkok early in the morning on Monday and rushed to investigate the scene.
The victim, 69 year old Songwit Dongprasit, was found lying unconscious 30 metres away from the zebra crossing. Rescuers were called to administer first aid and rush him to Thonburi Bangrungmueang Hospital. Songwit suffered a broken pelvis and internal bleeding in his stomach.
Songwit’s daughter later took to social media to appeal for blood donations for her father. She stated that her father was moved to the intensive care unit of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. Her father has an O blood type and was in need of donations of the same or compatible blood types.
CCTV footage of the accident was shared with the public. Songwit was seen crossing half of the road and stopping in the middle of the four-lane road, where vehicles were passing at high speed.
As he waited to cross the remaining half of the road, no vehicles stopped for him. Suddenly, a white pickup truck approached and hit him from behind.
The pickup driver was identified as 67 year old Wanchai Warakorn. Wanchai stated that he had been driving from Mae Sri Intersection towards Worrachak Intersection. However, he did not explain why he failed to avoid hitting Songwit, who was standing in the middle of the road.
Further updates on Songwit’s condition have not yet been reported, nor has there been any information regarding the legal consequences Wanchai may face.
Songwit is reportedly well known for his book Hanuman Chansamorn (หนุมานชาญสมร), which was published in 1997. The book tells the story of Hanuman, a key character in the Ramayana epic.
Numerous accidents on zebra crossings have been reported previously. On February 13, a student from Suankularb Wittayalai School in Bangkok was struck by a hatchback that ignored a red light at a zebra crossing.
Last month, a South Korean man was injured on a zebra crossing in Bangkok after a Thai motorcyclist ran a red light. This incident occurred at the same location where a Thai ophthalmologist was hit and killed in 2022.
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