An off-duty Chonburi police officer is under investigation after witnesses say his car ran a red light in Pattaya and struck and killed a motorcyclist.
Police were called to the intersection of Sukhumvit Road and Soi Chaiyapruek 2 around 2:40 a.m. March 29. There they found the crushed and mangled body of Teera Promraksa, 42, and the remnants of his Honda motorbike.
A heavily damaged Toyota Camry was parked nearby with driver Pol. Sen. Sgt. Maj. Somyot Jumpahom, 50, of Ban Sechuan, Chonburi waiting for police.
He told officers he was returning to the Ambassador Hotel after a party for the Khao Noi 27 police association when the speeding motorbike cut in front of him. He said he was unable to stop and hit the bike.
Pol. Sen. Sgt. Maj. Somyot Jumpahom (white shirt with #27) has been accused of running a red light whilst striking and killing a motorcyclist.
Witness Somchai Wongwal, 39, told a different story, however. He said the Camry was the one speeding and ran the through a red light at the intersection, hitting the biker full on.
Police tested the off-duty cop for alcohol and collected CCTV footage to determine who was at fault in the accident.
