Underage Mercedes-Benz driver and girlfriend survive after crashing into truck
A 16 year old Thai boy and his 17 year old girlfriend survived after the underage driver lost control of his black Mercedes-Benz, causing it to be launched onto the back of a parked six-wheel truck at a road construction site in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok.
Officers from Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station were alerted to the accident at about 12.30pm yesterday, December 22. The incident occurred on Nakhon-in Road in the Mueang district of Nonthaburi province. The left lane of the road was closed for the installation of underground electrical wires.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the damaged black Mercedes-Benz E200, registration plate ฆก 633, on the back of the six-wheel truck. The truck belonged to officials working on the underground electrical wires.
The 16 year old Mercedes-Benz driver and his 17 year old girlfriend were trapped inside the damaged vehicle. Officials and witnesses managed to rescue them safely from the car. Remarkably, they did not sustain any injuries from the accident.
One of the officials who witnessed the accident, 51 year old Noi, told ThaiRath that he saw the Mercedes-Benz travelling at very high speed before hearing the sound of sudden braking. The car then swerved, collided with traffic signs and an electric generator, and finally launched onto the truck.
Aside from the severity of the accident and the miraculous survival of the occupants, many netizens and Thai media outlets focused on the age of the driver and the possibility of alcohol consumption.
Thailand permits residents to obtain a driving licence at the age of 18, yet the Mercedes-Benz driver is only 16 years old. He and his girlfriend were taken to hospital for health checks and alcohol testing, but the results have not yet been reported.
According to some news agencies, the teenage driver is a member of an influential family in Thailand, though his identity has not been disclosed to the public.
Currently, officials charged the teenage driver with reckless driving causing damage to another person’s property, which carries a fine ranging from 400 to 1,000 baht under Sections 43(4) and 157 of the Land Transport Act.
The driver is also likely to face charges for driving without a licence. The penalty for this offence is imprisonment of up to one month, a fine of up to 1,000 baht, or both. His parents will later be summoned for questioning regarding the underage driving.
