Senior policeman dies after car smash

PHUKET: Pol Lt Col Kamtorn Preecha, Deputy Superintendent of the Tai Muang Police Station in Phnag Nga province, died in a car accident in Phuket early Saturday morning, while on his way home from a party given by the Phuket police. Lt Col Kamtorn’s Honda CRV smashed into a coconut tree near the Ta Chat Chai police checkpoint on Thepkrasattri Rd. He died from blood loss and a torn lung while being rushed to Wachira Phuket Hospital. Also in the car was Jurit Laksanawisit, Democrat Party candidate for Phang Nga, District 2, whose elder brother, Jurin, is a Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office. Both he and another passenger, Sombat Kipairoj, were slightly injured. They were released from hospital after treatment. “The group were on their way back to Tai Muang from Phuket at around 5:30 am when a motorcycle came out of nowhere and cut in front of the car,” alleged Pol Maj Sian Kaewtong, inspector of the Ta Chat Chai Police Station.