Late night double accident on Bangkok expressway leaves questions unanswered

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that highway police were notified of an accident on Bangkok's Chalong Rat expressway inbound near the Rama 9 turnoff in Wang Thong Lang district at 12.30 am yesterday.

 

A sports car famous in the 1990s - a black Nissan Silvia S14 - had overturned and was in the middle of the road.

 

But when they reached the scene there was a very expensive black BMW i8 that had slammed into the wreckage smashing its front and windshield.

 

The driver of that vehicle was nowhere to be seen. But he'd left his licence with the name Somphol Annanon, a lawyer. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The driver of the overturned Nissan Aphisit Sinjit, 39, was taken to Camillian Hospital in Thong Lo.

 

A friend of Aphisit's said that they had been dining in Ramintra and had made their way home separately.

 

He then got a call from Aphisit to say that he had hit a barrier in the rain and overturned. He had managed to get out of the overturned vehicle and call rescue services.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

While he was doing that the BMW had slammed into the wreckage. The driver was a young male.

 

Soon an Alphard (an expensive make of van) had arrived to take the BMW driver to hospital, it was claimed.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

In developments later in the day the Nissan driver had tested negative for alcohol in his system. 

 

Songphol had refused to be tested at a hospital though he was in contact with the police.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Both are being charged with negligent driving causing damage - an offence that warrants a fine. 

 

Songphol has said he would pay for the additional damage caused by him to the Nissan.

 

Police were trying to get him to take an alcohol test as part of the case. 

 

Both vehicles had Bangkok plates. 

 

 

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[Henryford]

So alcohol tests are optional.  He was obviously over the limit. Refusing a test should be treated as being over the limit.

[JoePai]

Police were trying to get him to take an alcohol test as part of the case

 

That sums up Thailand

[ThailandRyan]

11 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Police were trying to get him to take an alcohol test as part of the case

 

That sums up Thailand

It would be nice if the "Do you know who I am" Hi-So folks would follow the law instead of believing they are above the law.  The police on the other hand need to be less afraid of loosing there jobs and forcefully draw blood from a DUI refusal like Songphol. Starting to smell like a Red Bull boy sequel.

[JimmyJ]

They don't have to force- just treat refusal as a DUI - which it is,

[2baht]

4 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

They don't have to force- just treat refusal as a DUI - which it is,

Can't upset the rich and influential now, can they!

[findlay13]

27 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

It would be nice if the "Do you know who I am" Hi-So folks would follow the law instead of believing they are above the law.  The police on the other hand need to be less afraid of loosing there jobs and forcefully draw blood from a DUI refusal like Songphol. Starting to smell like a Red Bull boy sequel.

Yes,I agree, but good luck with that

.

[Gottfrid]

34 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

They don't have to force- just treat refusal as a DUI - which it is,

Yes, and that any fairly good lawyer would rip to pieces in 2 seconds.

 

[kcpattaya]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Police were trying to get him to take an alcohol test as part of the case. 

Haha... only in Thailand - money talks 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

They don't have to force- just treat refusal as a DUI - which it is,

I agree, any refusal to take an Alchohol test (breathalyser or give a blood sample at hospital) ‘should’ be automatically treated as DUI without any flexibility or wiggle room.

 

Unfortunately, the refusal of such tests offers those with decent lawyers plausible deniability and sufficient wiggle room.

 

IF the driver is suspected of driving while drunk, he is therefore suspected of a crime - he should be held down and a blood sample forcibly taken, consent or not. 

 

The Police are weak - this is the issue.

 

All this news achieves is that people can continue to drink and drive and refuse alcohol tests.

The inaction of the Police at the hospital have simply enabled further drink driving.

[JimmyJ]

58 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

IF the driver is suspected of driving while drunk, he is therefore suspected of a crime - he should be held down and a blood sample forcibly taken, consent or not. 

 

The Police are weak - this is the issue.

 

All this news achieves is that people can continue to drink and drive and refuse alcohol tests.

The inaction of the Police at the hospital have simply enabled further drink driving.

 

"IF the driver is suspected of driving while drunk, he is therefore suspected of a crime - he should be held down and a blood sample forcibly taken, consent or not."

 

This will lead to terrible abuses and violent confrontations.

 

Add a clause in bold type to whatever one signs when getting a DL,  stating that when asked one will take a breathalyzer test, and that refusal to do so will be deemed an admission of drunk driving.

Don't sign, no license.

[Ralf001]

Hahahahahaha A Nissan Silvia is a sports car !!!!!

[richard_smith237]

28 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

"IF the driver is suspected of driving while drunk, he is therefore suspected of a crime - he should be held down and a blood sample forcibly taken, consent or not."

 

This will lead to terrible abuses and violent confrontations.

I agree....   of course that ‘pathway’ is entirely in the hands of those refusing to such tests. 

IF you have nothing to hide there is no reason not to take a test.

 

- after that comment there will naturally be discussions of the accuracy of such tests - thus, a positive field breathalyser test should be backed up with calibrated test at a hospital or the police station. 

 

- And this ‘fleeing’ of the scene needs to stop !!...  the charge for fleeing a scene (without mitigating circumstances - i.e. escaping a mob or needing medical care) should be higher than DUI. 

- Additionally, IF someone flee’s a scene and does not attend hospital, the time limit for reporting themselves should be less than 1 hour... not going home for 24 hours to sober up !

 

28 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Add a clause in bold type to whatever one signs when getting a DL,  stating that when asked one will take a breathalyzer test, and that refusal to do so will be deemed an admission of drunk driving.

Don't sign, no license.

Good point...   I wonder if the driving licence already includes something such as this.

[toofarnorth]

Anyone notice it was the rain at fault agin ? Aphid said he hit a barrier in the rain. There should be no more accidents when the rain stops.

[KannikaP]

37 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Hahahahahaha A Nissan Silvia is a sports car !!!!!

The one in the accident is so old, it could be Silvia's Mother.

[swm59nj]

Don’t tell me.  The wet road and/or brake failure did it

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, toofarnorth said:

Anyone notice it was the rain at fault agin ? Aphid said he hit a barrier in the rain. There should be no more accidents when the rain stops.

The barrier and the rain clearly share the blame on this one... 

 

....  if the barrier wasn’t there he wouldn’t have crashed into it, if it wasn’t raining he wouldn’t have been going too fast for the conditions (perhaps)... 

[keithkarmann]

7 hours ago, JoePai said:

Police were trying to get him to take an alcohol test as part of the case

 

That sums up Thailand

So it is OK to refuse a test with no punishment (if you are rich).

[Aussieroaming]

I'm sure that in a couple of days time the lawyer will have a change of heart and submit to an alcohol test. After greasing the wheels of the RTP he will be found to be squeaky clean.

[digger70]

expressway leaves questions unanswered

 

No unanswered questions here ,Clear as mud, Incompetent drivers.

[Bangkok Barry]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Songphol had refused to be tested at a hospital though he was in contact with the police.

Should be an automatic prison term, but it isn't. What did he want to hide by not taking a test?

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, KannikaP said:

The one in the accident is so old, it could be Silvia's Mother.

Now there's a great song from the past.

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

While he was doing that the BMW had slammed into the wreckage. The driver was a young male.

 

Soon an Alphard (an expensive make of van) had arrived to take the BMW driver to hospital, it was claimed.

And refused a breath test?

Obviously has connections.

[brianthainess]

13 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Should be an automatic prison term, but it isn't. What did he want to hide by not taking a test?

My guess Drugs.

[thailand49]

I would assume the stretch have cameras prior to the accident as to how both parties were driving prior to the incident. 

Guy being a lawyer I'm sure he can get around the accident but noted regardless of leaving his license he did leave the scene.  

[Knocker33]

On 9/24/2022 at 8:00 AM, Henryford said:

So alcohol tests are optional.  He was obviously over the limit. Refusing a test should be treated as being over the limit.

Only if you are hi-so and not a peasant or a farang.