NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand – A drunk driver crashed his Honda CRV into a crowd outside a primary school in northeastern Thailand on Monday afternoon (Dec 24), killing a traffic police officer and injuring nine others, including four students, police said.
CCTV footage showed the bronze-silver SUV plowing into people gathered outside Ban Don Kwang School in Muang district at 4:15 p.m. local time, when parents were picking up their children after classes.
Police Lieutenant Wimut Thansupho, 53, a deputy traffic inspector, was killed while on duty. Among the injured were four parents, one vendor, and four students – three of whom were seriously wounded.
The driver, Somsak Asaichao, 75, emerged from the overturned vehicle appearing intoxicated and incoherent, police said. A subsequent blood alcohol test showed levels of 194 milligrams per percent, nearly four times the legal limit.
“We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law,” said Police Major General Narongrit Dansuwan, Provincial Police Chief of Nakhon Ratchasima. The suspect faces charges of drunk driving causing death and serious injury, which carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines up to 200,000 baht ($5,700).
Police denied bail for the suspect, who will be detained pending court proceedings.
The deceased officer will be posthumously promoted three ranks from Police Lieutenant to Police Lieutenant Colonel, with corresponding pension benefits for his family.
The school suspended classes for one day following the incident. Local authorities announced plans to install additional guard rails outside the school to prevent similar accidents. (TNA)
