Tragic incident: A former school director driving under the influence fatally struck a 14-year-old female student in Lampang Province. The driver’s blood alcohol level was measured at 171 milligrams percent. The grandmother is devastated, saying it was only about 1 km from home.
At 20:30 on 20 Jul 2016, Police Lieutenant Colonel Theera Suma, an investigator at Mae Tha Police Station, Mae Tha District, Lampang Province, received a report of a fatal traffic collision in front of the Bangchak gas station, Moo 8, Nakhrua Subdistrict, Mae Tha District, Lampang. He promptly went to the scene accompanied by Mae Tha Rescue Foundation personnel.
At the scene, the body of Pasinee, or Nong Kaimuk, age 14, a resident of Nam Puya Village, Nakhrua Subdistrict, Mae Tha District, and a Grade 8/2 student at Mae Tha Wittaya School in Lampang, was found. She was also a school volleyball player. Her body showed a broken neck and severe wounds, and she was declared dead at the scene. Nearby was a badly damaged white Honda motorcycle without a license plate, belonging to Nong Kaimuk.
Also found was an older model gray Isuzu pickup truck with Lampang license plates belonging to the other party. The front of the vehicle was damaged. The driver, Mr. Wat, age 63, was identified as a former elementary school director in Mae Tha District, Lampang. He appeared intoxicated and did not flee but remained at the scene waiting for police.
Authorities conducted a breathalyzer test, which showed a blood alcohol concentration of 171 milligrams percent. Mr. Wat was taken to Mae Tha Police Station, where he was charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving causing death.
Initial investigation revealed that before the accident, Nong Kaimuk had gone to drop off a friend and was returning home from Mae Tha Village. The perpetrator was driving from Mae Tha town toward Mae Tha Village. Due to intoxication, the pickup was seen swerving before crashing into Nong Kaimuk, who was riding her motorcycle normally. Both vehicle and rider slid nearly 10 meters off the road, as captured by CCTV.
At 18:30 on 21 Jul 2016, reporters returned to the scene and met Mr. Thiti Srirat, 45, a Good Samaritan who witnessed the incident. He showed the exact crash site and the place where Nong Kaimuk’s body was found, saying that he was inside the gas station settling accounts when he heard a loud crash and rushed out. At first, he saw the pickup had collided with the motorcycle but did not see injuries. Using a flashlight, he discovered Nong Kaimuk’s lifeless body beside the road near the motorcycle. He also noticed the pickup driver appeared intoxicated and promptly informed the police.
Reporters also visited Phromphiram Temple, where Nong Kaimuk’s funeral rites were held. Friends, students, and acquaintances gathered to express condolences to the family and pay respects. Nong Kanokrat Kiangmoon, 63, Nong Kaimuk’s grandmother, was seen grieving while wiping the coffin and praying for her granddaughter’s peaceful afterlife, visibly crying and unable to accept the loss.
Nong Kanokrat Kiangmoon shared that at the time of the accident, her granddaughter was returning from dropping off a friend in a neighboring village and was riding her motorcycle home. She was only about 1 km from home when the tragic accident happened. After the incident, the perpetrator came to speak with the family, but she preferred to focus on funeral arrangements first and was not ready to talk much due to her grief.