Pick-up driver "graaps" feet of father: "I didn't mean to kill your daughter" - one dead one injured in cycle smash

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A dramatic picture published by top Thai media Thai Rath highlighted the sheer tragedy that occurs on the Thai roads on a daily basis.

 

The picture shows 38 year old Nonwat from Sakon Nakhon putting his head to the feet of 82 year old Jan Thothong on the Udon Thani to Sakon Nakhon Road in Nong Nakham sub-district.

 

Nonwat had just killed the deaf old man's daughter Suphan Thothong, 54, as she rode a bicycle with her grandson Woraphan, 3, on the back. The little boy was rushed to hospital in a grievous state. 

 

Suphan had a broken neck and was dead at the scene. 

 

Unbelievably the driver of the Vigo pick-up was on his way to sort out a speeding offence in his hometown after having stayed with his wife in Loei.

 

As he "graaped" the feet of the old man he said: "It was an accident - I didn't mean to do it".

 

It had been raining and the roads were slippery, reported Thai Rath.

 

Muang Udon Thani police took the pick-up driver away and charged him with negligent driving causing death. They were giving him drugs and alcohol tests. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A relative of the deceased, Nuan, 70, said that Suphan was very poor and hawked sweets and cakes in the village to get money to look after her aged parents and mentally handicapped daughter as well as her grandson that another child had left with her. 

 

Police said she had just been to the ATM to get money to buy her wares and was on the way home when tragedy struck and grandmother and grandson were hit from behind. 

 

The media carried further pictures of a pick-up with dents and a mangled bicycle in the undergrowth. 

 

Another tragic reminder of the perils of Thailand's roads. 

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

 "It was an accident - I didn't mean to do it".

Another delinquent at the wheel. 

Bloody reckless lunatic. 

 

 

No one ever means to kill on our roads. 

 

 

 

[ikke1959]

I always read that peple did not want to kill, but they did.. Maybe if they think first before they do they won't kill. It easy to say it was not my intention.... so why did they do than??

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

What a tragedy for this poor family; as if they were not already suffering enough hardships. RIP Suphan, I hope the little boy makes a full recovery.

 

No details about how this happened, so blame apportioning can wait, but it doesn't look good for a pick up driver on his way to sort out a speeding offence.

[Owiee]

So sad. I doubt things will change anytime soon. 

[mr_lob]

Nothing will happen. We had our driver and 2 customers killed by a speeding truck driver 5 years ago. Clear to see his wreckless driving on the dashcam before he lost control and smashed over the central reservation. 2 year suspended sentence and a 5000 baht fine for killing 3 people!!

Oh, and he was driving his truck again 3 days later.

[vandeventer]

31 minutes ago, Owiee said:

So sad. I doubt things will change anytime soon. 

If they make grass legal things will change but not for the better. More Thai's should learn to drive at driving schools as some are very good. But they need to take what they learn to the roads after they get their license.

[Inala]

Tragic, this really made me emotional. This poor lady was looking after her elderly mum & dad, a mentally handicapped daughter and her grandson, who is now lying in hospital in a grievous condition. So many lives torn apart by this one incident, but what makes it worse is that this is an already poor family. Who will take care of mum & dad? Who will take care of the disabled daughter? Who will look after the little boy in hospital? Everyone here is vulnerable. I just hope that help is available on the ground for these guys. 

[bougnat]

and when we remonstrate with them, they pull out their guns, those flaws...lizard brains

 

 

 

[BusyB]

This is so utterly utterly heartbreaking. Read that family story ... there could be no more innocent victims ... except perhaps Kratai and the 20 or 30 others a day who get KILLED willy nilly, who the hell cares, on Thai roads.

 

And they do nothing.

 

Absolutely nothing.

[sawadee1947]

41 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

If they make grass legal things will change but not for the better. More Thai's should learn to drive at driving schools as some are very good. But they need to take what they learn to the roads after they get their license.

Maybe the young ones will learn at driving schools.

However, how many are on the roads even who bought their license? 

[malibukid]

they need bike lanes in Chiang Mai.  like civilized countries

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

As he "graaped" the feet of the old man he said: "It was an accident - I didn't mean to do it".

I wonder how the old fella managed not to stamp on his head.

[worgeordie]

A whole family devastated ,with the breadwinner

been killed in this "accident ", lets seen what the

alcohol and drug tests come up with.

regards worgeordie

[TKDfella]

Tragic and sad, my condolences. Extra care is always needed when behind cyclist and give them plenty of room. The wake of a vehicle travelling at speed too close might cause a cyclist problems.

[Surasak]

35 minutes ago, malibukid said:

they need bike lanes in Chiang Mai.  like civilized countries

Would it make any difference?  Very, very doubtful. It would be just more room on the roads for 'accidents' to happen.

[Cake Monster]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

As he "graaped" the feet of the old man he said: "It was an accident - I didn't mean to do it".

As he " Graaped " at the feet of the Old Man, the Old fella should have whipped out his JT, and P@@@ed all over him.

It all the Pleb deserves.

My condolences to the Family 

[JeffersLos]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

It had been raining and the roads were slippery

If only vehicles were designed to drive on wet roads. 

 

Somebody needs to invent a vehicle that can be used in the rain. 

[new2here]

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I always read that peple did not want to kill, but they did.. Maybe if they think first before they do they won't kill. It easy to say it was not my intention.... so why did they do than??

i agree.. in the end, i think barring something extraordinary, no one will say “yes, i meant to kill XYZ” …. but to me, that’s neither here, nor there.

 

I think the state, as the public prosecutor, has the obligation to prosecute, convict and seek remand (incarceration) for those charged with these types of crimes…   in my eyes, these folks have now DEMONSTRATED their inability or unwillingness to act in a manner that doesn’t place an undue risk to the safety of the public…

 

therefore i expect the state to seek a punishment that both fairly punished the convicted for their crimes and the injury to their victims, but also seeks to insure the convicted can’t repeat their criminal actions again.

 

 

[RocketDog]

6 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Another delinquent at the wheel. 

Bloody reckless lunatic. 

 

 

No one ever means to kill on our roads. 

 

 

 

I can appreciate the sentiment of your last statement but, alas, I'm dubious.

Personal observation makes me wonder how different things would be if these people truly were trying to kill.

 

Would they prove as incompetent at that as well? The truth is probably that they just don't care one way or the other.

Government polls show that over 50% see traffic deaths as Buddha's will.

[Road Warrior]

his comment :didn't mean to do it """ what pathetic reason =  IQ  1/10 

[rudi49jr]

2 hours ago, BusyB said:

and the 20 or 30 others a day who get KILLED willy nilly,

Make that 70 to 80 deaths a day and you’d be a lot closer to the truth. Thai roads truly are death traps. And the sad things is that no one seems to care enough to do anything about it. 

[metisdead]

A post with derogatory trolling comments toward Thais has been removed.

[berrec]

Well, no details yet of how other than it was a wet road, but, "the driver of the Vigo pick-up was on his way to sort out a speeding offense in his hometown"?

 

Like most of these pickup vehicles, I see regularly speeding on roads driven by absolute morons with little consideration for the consequences of their idiotic actions. 

[multatuli]

How to help this family?

[SuwadeeS]

Thailand will neuer change. Thailand was, is and will always be the top road death for these reasons:

1. The traffic laws are not strictly enforced.

2. People can easy bribe to go away.

3. The government does not revoke or suspend Drilling licenses.

4. The tickets are a joke.

5. If they would copy The German or Swiss style, the fatality rate would drop.

6. Strictly enforce the speed Limits, safety belt, helmet regulations, and Start to suspend licenses.

 

Since the Thai government is unable/unwillig to do the above, nothing will change forever.

 

[metisdead]

An off topic trolling post has been removed.

[thailand49]

He didn't mean and that is true, he has been doing this his whole life the way he learn and without any proper education in driving " road is to be share " " adjust your driving to the condition "  in this case raining slow down. Data has shown just a simple sentence in a driver handbook, a simple question on the written test that requires critical thinking instead of memorization could have save the lives!

 

R.I.P. to the family SAD, but as noted it will continue and continue until the government realize what is needed to reduce these types of accidents.????

[Nkpjed]

5 hours ago, malibukid said:

they need bike lanes in Chiang Mai.  like civilized countries

That would be worse. They would just use it as a lane to try and pass causing even more carnage and death. 

[Jimjim1]

4 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

Somebody needs to invent a vehicle that can be used in the rain. 

The Thais would still find a way to catastrophically crash it.