A tragic accident in Ratchaburi has ignited outrage after a police major allegedly drove drunk against traffic and crashed into multiple motorcycles, killing a 64-year-old woman. The incident happened early in the morning on June 26, along Song Phon Road, directly in front of an Isuzu showroom.
Dashcam footage captured by a motorist stuck in traffic went viral on Facebook, showing a black Honda HR-V SUV speeding head-on into oncoming traffic. Several motorcyclists narrowly avoided the SUV, but 64-year-old Juthathip wasn’t as lucky. The collision threw her into the air before she landed hard on the road. Rescue workers rushed her to a hospital, but she died on the way due to her severe injuries.
Officer Refuses Breath Test, Claims Chest Pain
The driver of the SUV was later identified as a police major assigned to the Provincial Police Investigation Division. Witnesses say the officer appeared intoxicated at the scene. When asked to take a breathalyser test, he refused, claiming chest pain prevented him from blowing into the device. He was transported to Ban Pong Hospital for further treatment and testing.
Ban Pong Police Station Superintendent Kobchok Lektrakul confirmed that medical staff performed a blood alcohol test, but the results were pending at the time of the report. He added that investigators had yet to question the officer formally due to his medical condition. The incident has raised serious concerns over police accountability and road safety in Thailand.
Charges and Pattern of Police-Involved Fatal Crashes
Initially, the police officer has been charged with reckless driving causing death, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht under Thailand’s Criminal Code Section 291. Additional charges related to drink driving could follow, depending on the results of the blood test.
Disturbingly, this is not an isolated incident. Just last week, another police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat allegedly drove drunk, crashed into several vehicles, and killed a 62-year-old woman. On June 22, a border patrol officer in Songkhla also caused a fatal accident while under the influence, killing a couple and their five-year-old son. These repeated cases highlight an urgent need for reforms to tackle drink driving among law enforcement officers and restore public trust.