Man Rams Benz Into Bus Passengers, Killing One

[george]

Beauty queen's son slapped with murder charge

Benz driver mows down 3 people, killing one, after incident with bus

Photo: Daily News

BANGKOK: -- Police are preparing to press a premeditated-murder charge against a 20-year-old man who swerved his Mercedes-Benz car into a crowd of people on a footpath in Bangkok shortly after he attacked a bus driver with a rock on Wednesday night.

The incident critically injured three people, one of whom died yesterday.

The driver was identified as Kanpitak Pachimsawas. He is a son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pachimsawas, 42, and Kan-anek Pachimsawas. Kan-anek's elder brother is Lt-General Ukrit Pachimsawas, a former assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police.

The woman who died was Saichon Luangsaeng, 42, an official of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.

"Doctors said the vehicle pressed over mum's chest and torso. Her ribs were broken and they pierced into her internal organs. Her pelvis was broken into pieces," said Saichon's daughter, Sucheera Insuwan, 25. "I am shocked. I never thought mum would face such violence. I am going to fight for justice."

Sucheera said Saichon's body would be donated to the Red Cross Society in accordance with her mother's wishes.

"We will ensure justice for both sides," Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Adisorn Nonsee said yesterday.

He said investigators at Thonglor police station were preparing to charge Kanpitak with premeditated murder, attempted murder and physical assault.

Kanpitak was taken to Samitivej Hospital following the incident.

After he swerved his car into the crowd and ran over three victims, witnesses attacked him. As of yesterday, Kan-anek said his son was crying all the time and was depressed.

"He has suppressed his feelings since he was young. He often became stressed out and hospitalised," Kan-anek said.

The father said his son had recently lost consciousness and was sent to hospital. "He has suffered from stress relating to his girlfriend and his mum," he said.

He said he had taken care of Kanpitak from Monday to Friday, while Savinee had taken care of him on weekends. "From now on, I won't let my son drive. He will also enter the monkhood in dedication to his victims," Kan-anek said.

The father also expressed deep condolences to the victims and offered to compensate them.

Adisorn reckoned that Kanpitak had an underlying disease that made him unable to control himself.

"We have to check his health history and interrogate doctors," Adisorn said.

Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute director Dr Sirisak Thitidilokrat said Kanpitak had paid three visits to the institute as an outpatient.

"The first time was on March 9 and the last time was in April," he said.

However, Sirisak declined to disclose any further details because he needed to protect the patient's rights. The institute treats people with mental problems.

On Wednesday night, Kanpitak complained to Pol Sgt-Major Nukool Dechaphan that a bus had brushed against his sedan. "I flagged down the bus," Nukool said.

The bus stopped and Nukool was about to examine the vehicles when he heard Kanpitak fighting with bus driver Sathaporn Arunsiri, 37.

Sathaporn yesterday testified to investigators at Thonglor police station that he was checking on the Benz sedan when Kanpitak banged his face with a rock.

"I became groggy and then saw the man banging his Benz into the crowd," Sathaporn said.

The bus driver insisted that his vehicle did not brush with Kanpitak's luxury car. He believed the young man might have misunderstood what had happened.

"I have been driving for seven years and I have never been involved in any accident," Sathaporn said.

Fare collector Somjit Klaewkla stood by Sathaporn's account. "Our bus didn't do anything. There was no brushing accident," she said.

She said some passengers pointed their fingers at Kanpitak and used their camera phones to photograph his face after they were asked to get off the bus.

When a bus is involved in an accident, passengers have to get off and wait for a new bus to come.

"I believe the man got angry and therefore swerved his car into where we were standing," Somjit said. She said she had sustained only minor injuries.

Another survivor, Ratchanee Jiew, 58, also said the bus did not brush against any vehicle.

Sathaporn also told police that a man, who identified himself as the father of the car's driver, threatened to harm his wife and children.

"He said he knew many senior police and military officers. The threat was made in front of police officers. I am scared," Sathaporn said.

--The Nation 2007-07-06

[dukkha]

Enter the monkhood and all will be fine.....pleeeeeeese, spare us this tragic version of boooodhism

[sriracha john]

Bangkok Post report on the incident is here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1402251

Mr Kananek, father of Mr Kanpithak [the Mercedes driver], says he will take all responsibility for what happened. The family agreed to pay compensation to the injured and the family of the dead victim. At a press conference, Mr Kananek and Mrs Sawinee, who are divorced, expressed regret.

Mr Kanpithak had suffered from depression and his body would stiffen in a fit when enraged, his father said. His son would be ordained to make merit for the dead victim. Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn Nonsi, the metropolitan police chief, said police would treat all sides fairly. Mr Kanpitak is the nephew of Ukrit Patchimsawat, retired deputy police chief.

Edited July 6, 2007 by sriracha john

[Payboy]

Mr Kananek, father of Mr Kanpithak [the Mercedes driver], says he will take all responsibility for what happened.

sounds familiar - what is it with these people? parents talking responsibility for crimes committed by adult children!

same statement made by the mum of that actor who killed a garbage collector last month....

[sriracha john]

Mr Kananek, father of Mr Kanpithak [the Mercedes driver], says he will take all responsibility for what happened.

sounds familiar - what is it with these people? parents talking responsibility for crimes committed by adult children!

same statement made by the mum of that actor who killed a garbage collector last month....

yes, along with the same offers to pay compensation, express regret, and talking up any number of false excuses as to why they caused these deaths...

Actor Kills Garbage Collector In Car Crash

I'm just waiting for the actor to announce he's going into the monkhood...

[draggons]

Was watching it on the news this morning, the guy's obviously mentaly unstable. Why the ###### is someone who's known to suffer from seziures allowed to drive anyway?

[jackr]

Mr Kananek, father of Mr Kanpithak [the Mercedes driver], says he will take all responsibility for what happened. The family agreed to pay compensation to the injured and the family of the dead victim. At a press conference, Mr Kananek and Mrs Sawinee, who are divorced, expressed regret.

Mr Kanpithak had suffered from depression and his body would stiffen in a fit when enraged, his father said. His son would be ordained to make merit for the dead victim. Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn Nonsi, the metropolitan police chief, said police would treat all sides fairly. Mr Kanpitak is the nephew of Ukrit Patchimsawat, retired deputy police chief.

A lot of good merit will do a dead person! Ordained? He should be locked up forever whatever his state of mind was. The bastard was fit enough to get behind the wheel of a car.

[lazeeboy]

Mr Kananek, father of Mr Kanpithak [the Mercedes driver], says he will take all responsibility for what happened. The family agreed to pay compensation to the injured and the family of the dead victim. At a press conference, Mr Kananek and Mrs Sawinee, who are divorced, expressed regret.

Mr Kanpithak had suffered from depression and his body would stiffen in a fit when enraged, his father said. His son would be ordained to make merit for the dead victim. Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn Nonsi, the metropolitan police chief, said police would treat all sides fairly. Mr Kanpitak is the nephew of Ukrit Patchimsawat, retired deputy police chief.

A lot of good merit will do a dead person! Ordained? He should be locked up forever whatever his state of mind was. The bastard was fit enough to get behind the wheel of a car.

its not what you know ,its who you know in thailand,he will never see the inside of a cell

[sriracha john]

Was watching it on the news this morning, the guy's obviously mentaly unstable. Why the ###### is someone who's known to suffer from seziures allowed to drive anyway?

It's due to the "enablers" that his parents are. Buying the Mercedes, bribing to getting him a license (if he even bothered to have one), etc. etc.

They could easily fit the description as "accessory to murder."

[November Rain]

Compensation? Ordained to make merit? Parents take responsibility? <deleted>?

This guy wilfully rammed his car into innocent people. They didn't even include the driver, they had just been on the bus. He deserves no less than being locked up & the key being thrown away. How much more of a danger to society could he be? Deliberately mowing down innocent people because his car had been scratched & he has anger control issues? Jeeze!

Sadly though, having the connections he has, I doubt he'll see the inside of a cell, as well. Sick!

[bkkmadness]

This is the same guy from the other thread, someone said he's autistic? Sounds to me like he wasn't fit to be driving in the first place.

[baabaabobo]

He deliberately ploughed his car into a crowd of people killing a woman BUT "He is a son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pachimsawas, 42, and Kan-anek Pachimsawas. Kan-anek's elder brother is Lt-General Ukrit Pachimsawas, a former assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police." therefore... will become a monk

Edited July 6, 2007 by baabaabobo

[madjbs]

What he did was awful and I feel very sorry for the family of the dead woman. However if you watched the footage on T.V its clear the guy has some very severe mental and depression problems. You shouldn’t underestimate what this can do to normal people who are unfortunate enough to suffer from medically recognized conditions (not just a short temper etc..).

NR, Your right the guy is a danger to society but what he needs is mental care not just prison for the rest of his life as that isnt going to help anyone.

Jake

Edited July 6, 2007 by madjbs

[sriracha john]

Former Miss Thailand Sawinee Pachimsawas and Kan-anek, the parents of Kanpitak, whom police charged with premeditated murder after he allegedly drove his Benz into bus passengers, say in a press briefing yesterday that their son has an underlying disease.

The Nation

================

yes, the disease is called StupidlyRichParentsWhoEnable-itis

[November Rain]

What he did was awful and I feel very sorry for the family of the dead woman. However if you watched the footage on T.V its clear the guy has some very severe mental and depression problems. You shouldn’t underestimate what this can do to normal people who are unfortunate enough to suffer from medically recognized problems (not just a short temper etc..).

NR, Your right the guy is a danger to society but what he needs is mental care not just prison for the rest of his life.

Jake

I haven't seen any footage, just read the news reports. However, if he so clearly suffers from mental problems, I'm afraid I have to trot out the same as I did for the actor with the garbage collector (sorry for being repetitive, all) - <deleted> was he behind the wheel of a car? As we have seen through both of these tragic incidents; cars, when in the hands of those physically or mentally incapable of driving them do kill. So, why should those that act so irresponsibly as to drive whilst incapable get away with compensation & apologies?

I just said "lock up & throw away the key". Whether that is in jail, or a mental facility - he just needs to be kept away from society, IMO

[Thaddeus]

What he did was awful and I feel very sorry for the family of the dead woman. However if you watched the footage on T.V its clear the guy has some very severe mental and depression problems. You shouldn’t underestimate what this can do to normal people who are unfortunate enough to suffer from medically recognized problems (not just a short temper etc..).

NR, Your right the guy is a danger to society but what he needs is mental care not just prison for the rest of his life.

Jake

Someone with mental issues that severe should not be allowed behind the wheel of a potentially lethal weapon.

Treat his condition within the confines of four walls, prison or hospital will make no difference as he probably wouldn't see any difference. Punish the people who bought him the car and let him drive it....... oh wait, they have money and are society people...... scrap that idea.... this is a prime example of possibly the only thing I detest about Thailand.

Victorian values and morals coupled with modern technology ..... a very nasty mixture.

//edit/me NR think same same, same time/

Edited July 6, 2007 by Thaddeus

[sriracha john]

Any information on what model of Mercedes that was involved?

I'd be interested in knowing just what the gross weight of this deadly missle was...

and if it was a bigger lethal weapon than the one the actor was using when he killed his victim... a BMW 525i.

[Scott]

My condolences to the family of the deceased and my sympathies to those injured in this tragic incident.

It would seem that premeditated murder might be a little harsh--I don't know that this guy got in the car with the intention of killing someone. A murder charge, yes, but premeditated; questionable.

Because people have mental disorders it should not necessarily disqualify them from driving. If he has a seizure disorder, that certainly should. In most developed countries you must be seizure free for a period of one year before they let you drive.

One of the sad things here is the number of people with mental disorders that don't receive treatment, let alone adequate treatment. If you combine this lack of treatment with money you have a recipe for disaster, since the richer the family the more resources these folks can have--such as cars, guns etc.

It's not that the kid comes from a family with money that makes this particularly bad; it's that he may have a treatable mental disorder that makes it tragic.

[bkkmadness]

Because people have mental disorders it should not necessarily disqualify them from driving. If he has a seizure disorder, that certainly should. In most developed countries you must be seizure free for a period of one year before they let you drive.

And the rules in this country, does anyone know? It's probably much the same but of course licenses are handed out to anyone. So another Thai victim of these liberal Thai rules that we loved when we came here and start to hate so much when we see the real results of them.

[sriracha john]

It would seem that premeditated murder might be a little harsh--I don't know that this guy got in the car with the intention of killing someone. A murder charge, yes, but premeditated; questionable.

Premeditation does require hours of preparation. It is in regard to his intention at the time of the incident.

In this case, he deliberately swerved his big car into a crowd of people... which could reasonably be expected to injure them severely or even kill them, as was the case.

That intention at the time of his offense is premeditated murder.

[bkkmadness]

In this case, he deliberately swerved his big car into a crowd of people... which could reasonably be expected to injure them severely or even kill them, as was the case.

That intention at the time of his offense is premeditated murder.

So a guy that picks up a knife in a bar and stabs someone to death also gets charged with premeditated murder? I don't think so. It'd never stand in court I'd bet, it would be murder at the most. Considering his mental instability, probably manslaughter for driving a car knowing he was unfit to do so.

Whatever way you look at it, you can be sure he'll be waking up in his own bed for many years to come once the compensation goes through.

[sibeymai]

Sounds like just another spoiled rich-kid brat who might evade justice on medical gronds. With the likes of Khunying Potjaman leading by example in how to use medical excuses to evade justice it's no wonder others may try the same tactic.

Truth is this guy is a cold-blooded murderer and should be treated as such.

[sriracha john]

In this case, he deliberately swerved his big car into a crowd of people... which could reasonably be expected to injure them severely or even kill them, as was the case.

That intention at the time of his offense is premeditated murder.

So a guy that picks up a knife in a bar and stabs someone to death also gets charged with premeditated murder? I don't think so. It'd never stand in court I'd bet, it would be murder at the most. Considering his mental instability, probably manslaughter for driving a car knowing he was unfit to do so.

Whatever way you look at it, you can be sure he'll be waking up in his own bed for many years to come once the compensation goes through.

Every situation has to be judged separately according to the details, but it could very easily be a situation of premeditated murder when someone stabs another person.

The bottom line, however, is as you state... even if some of those nights are spent on a temple's sleeping mat.

Edited July 6, 2007 by sriracha john

[bkkmadness]

Sounds like just another spoiled rich-kid brat who might evade justice on medical gronds. With the likes of Khunying Potjaman leading by example in how to use medical excuses to evade justice it's no wonder others may try the same tactic.

Truth is this guy is a cold-blooded murderer and should be treated as such.

Sounds like you'd rather burn him at the stake for being rich than finding out if there really is a mental health issue involved.

[madjbs]

You all say he is going to get away with it using medical reasons etc.. and how it can only happen in Thailand etc... But the fact of the matter is that even in the U.K and U.S cold blooded killers get off using the same reasons all the time. Many many killers have never even stood trial as they were deemed "unfit". Its quite amusing as usual to watch the knee jerk reactions bashing anything and anyone in sight. Im not saying what he did wasn’t terrible, as it was, but please why don’t you put some brain power into action when you make a reply instead of condemning everyone to death.

Jake

[geriatrickid]

Some of these comments are horribly ignorant. Without having any knowledge as to what the subject's mental health condition is, there is a rush to condemnation of both the subject and his parents.

The parents are pilloried because they were willing to accept responsibility (even though they may have no culpability). Is the alternative to blame videogames, Satan or to go on Oprah and make excuses as it is done in the west? When's the last time parents of teenage thugs in the UK or USA ran to take responsibility for their little angels?

Until the circumstances are known as to how he had the vehicle and why he was driving, it is unfair to make accusations.

Mentally ill people often do not understand right from wrong and exhibit periods of diminished capacity. If he is sick, then some compassion is order. (And yes, I have compassion for the dead woman.) The biggest problem in the treatment of the mentally ill is in convincing them to accept and co-operate with treatment. Until some of you have cared for a mentally ill person you will not understand this point. Parents with disabled children desperately want their kids to be normal.

Some of the people heaping abuse here either have or live with someone that has an unhealthy lifestyle. What would your reaction be when they show up and beg for admission to a clinical trial to treat their diseased liver (due to excessive drinking), or HIV (due to unsafe practices) or lung cancer (due to smoking) and someone tells them, too bad, suffer.

4. Heaping scorn for on the subject for following the tenets of his religion and culture and trying to address the wrongs done by becoming a monk demonstrates a complete contempt and disrespect of the country within which you are guests. Would it be better if he just did what they do in the west and go into rehab and appear on TV with crocodile tears. Living as a monk and trying to offer redress within the value system of the local culture is certainly more helpful in the long run than in doing nothing as it is done in the west.

[TAWP]

It's not premeditated.

In most countries premeditated means you have had a chance to calm down and still for instance pick up a knife to hunt down someone and kill them with pure intent.

This is more Manslaughter with intent/with intent of bodily harm, depending if he resonably would be able to predict that his action would lead to death and not only wounds.

[madjbs]

Very well said Geriatrickid, I couldnt agree more.

Jake

[Payboy]

going purely by their driving style , i'd say at least half the drivers in bangkok have one kind of mental disorder or the other!

[sriracha john]

Premeditated... not premeditated.... murder.... manslaughter... accident .... whatever it is, Saichon Luangsaeng is dead and Kanpitak Pachimsawas did it.