Man dies in second Phuket hit-and-run in two days

PHUKET: A 21-year-old security guard from Phattalung has died after the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a car on the road from the Heroines’ Monument (map here) to Pa Khlok late last night.

He was the second person to be struck down in a hit-and-run in Phuket in two days (see story here).

Thalang Police Duty Officer Chatree Chuwichian was notified of the accident at 12:45am.

“The man’s motorcycle was in a roadside ditch. The body of Mr Jarin Weenada was lying nearby,” Sub Lt Chatree said.

Mr Jarin was still dressed in his SAM Andaman Security Service uniform.

“His body was taken to Thalang Hospital,” he added.

Witnesses identified a blue Proton sedan as the hit-and-run vehicle.

“The car was seen entering the Neramit Housing Estate. where we found the car, with matching damage to the front, parked in front of a house,” Sub Lt Chatree said.
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“The driver was not inside the vehicle. His wife came out of the house and told us that her husband had just returned from a meeting. He parked his car in front of the house and ran away.

“She has no idea where he is,” he added.

Sub Lt Chatree named the suspect driver as Chaowarot Jantarak, 38, a “New car Hire Purchase Marketing Officer” at a Phuket branch of Thanachart Bank.

“We seized his car and are now searching for him,” he said.

— Thawit Bilabdullar