Canadian Woman Arrested For Killing Two Thai Girls, Father In Road Accident

[george]

Canadian man arrested for killing two Thai girls, father in road accident

PHUKET: -- A Canadian tourist has been arrested for alleged drunk driving, which resulted in the deaths of two Thai girls and their father.

Leslie Hand, 44, appeared drunk when he was arrested at the scene of the road accident on Rawai Beach road at 10 pm Sunday.

Police said the man drove a Honda car and slammed into a motorcycle ridden by Phayong Waraput, 29.

Phayong and his two daughters, Walaiporn Waraput, 8, and Supitcha Chaisiri, 6, died at the scene.

The mother, Wiphaporn Buayu, 25, was severely injured.

-- The Nation 2007-07-16

Edited July 18, 2007 by PeaceBlondie
Titles corrected based on later news article

[steelepulse]

Canadian man arrested for killing two Thai girls, father in road accident

PHUKET: -- A Canadian tourist has been arrested for alleged drunk driving, which resulted in the deaths of two Thai girls and their father.

Leslie Hand, 44, appeared drunk when he was arrested at the scene of the road accident on Rawai Beach road at 10 pm Sunday.

Police said the man drove a Honda car and slammed into a motorcycle ridden by Phayong Waraput, 29.

Phayong and his two daughters, Walaiporn Waraput, 8, and Supitcha Chaisiri, 6, died at the scene.

The mother, Wiphaporn Buayu, 25, was severely injured.

-- The Nation 2007-07-16

A trajedy.  Those killed were my maid's family.

[baabaabobo]

Awful accident. Condolences to the family. Drinking and driving do not mix.

[canadiangirl]

Canadian man arrested for killing two Thai girls, father in road accident

PHUKET: -- A Canadian tourist has been arrested for alleged drunk driving, which resulted in the deaths of two Thai girls and their father.

Leslie Hand, 44, appeared drunk when he was arrested at the scene of the road accident on Rawai Beach road at 10 pm Sunday.

Police said the man drove a Honda car and slammed into a motorcycle ridden by Phayong Waraput, 29.

Phayong and his two daughters, Walaiporn Waraput, 8, and Supitcha Chaisiri, 6, died at the scene.

The mother, Wiphaporn Buayu, 25, was severely injured.

-- The Nation 2007-07-16

A trajedy. Those killed were my maid's family.

I'm so sorry to hear that she lost her family. My condoleances to her.

[stevemiddie]

My condolences.

If it is proved he was indeed drunk...................i hope they throw away the key.

[TopDogger]

I hope they throw away the key...

[Payboy]

if he was drunk - throw the book at him

also - take this as an example why 4 persons should not be on a motorcycle!

Edited July 16, 2007 by Payboy

[cdnvic]

If he was indeed drunk he should pay a very heavy price, both in jail time and financially. I'll wait for the whole story to come out before passing judgement though.

Any news on where in Canada he was from?

[Ned]

The farang was probably too drunk to run from the scene......something that Thais have told me to do.

Motorbike riding is a risky business especially four-up. .....husband, wife, 2 kids. Fifty road deaths a day ( 720 under- 15 bike riders a year). It's carnage out there. The roads are full of drunks and incompetents. This Canadian fellow's done the wrong thing and will leave the country with his bank account badly mauled; maybe after a lenghty spell in a cruel Thai cell too. If the Canadian guy's got a conscience it might haunt him the rest of his life.

[Backpack_thailand]

Agree 100% with the thoughts expressed on this topic. A absolute tragedy that two young children have lost their lives to a drunk idiot. If indeed he was drunk, then throw away the key...!!!

I have two young boys myself and this kind of story just puts me a state of disbelief. I hope the Mother can survive her injuries and somehow continue on with her life.

[Scott]

My condolences.

[jtp]

The farang was probably too drunk to run from the scene......something that Thais have told me to do.

Motorbike riding is a risky business especially four-up. .....husband, wife, 2 kids. Fifty road deaths a day ( 720 under- 15 bike riders a year). It's carnage out there. The roads are full of drunks and incompetents. This Canadian fellow's done the wrong thing and will leave the country with his bank account badly mauled; maybe after a lenghty spell in a cruel Thai cell too. If the Canadian guy's got a conscience it might haunt him the rest of his life.

Yes,running from the scene is a BRILLIANT idea,forget about the two little girls and the father bleeding to death on the ground,because of your stupidity!

[qualtrough]

Too tragic for words. If he was indeed drunk and at fault it is hardly right to call it an accident as something like that is bound to happen sooner or later when you drive drunk. I hope he gets a severe penalty that includes both jail time and heavy compensation. This kind of behavior is wrong, no matter who does it or where they do it. Those forum members who drive drunk here because the chances of getting caught are slight should ponder the fact that something like this could easily happen to them.

Edited July 16, 2007 by qualtrough

[hgma]

I am stunned

my sincere condoleances to the family involved.

a stern reminder that alcohol could kill.

The man, if proven guilty, should be convicted to Thai law accordenly.

trowing away keys doesnt sole the problem at all.

Mind you Thai society has been poisoned with alcohol

its part of the culture they say..............

Its part of every day life around here unfortunatly

And look what it can cause??

Not knowing any facts at all, maybee i may assume that the guy hat no intend to kill anyone.

let the Thai law handle this case

hgma

[brahmburgers]

Every day for nearly 10 years I've been driving in Thailand, and each of those days I've avoided close calls that could easily have been accidents. I'm not trying to excuse the Canadian, but it's like, if you romp barefoot in a field of thorns, you're bound to get scratched.

Just last week I was on my motorbike going down a narrow suburban alley. Out darts a little girl from a hole in a fence - not looking. I was twenty feet away and slowed. Pow! another little girl does the exact same thing - without looking. I slowed nearly to a stop. Wham! a little boy darts out of the same hidden hole and (you guessed it) he wasn't looking either. Call me racist for saying this, but your average Thai driver would have taken out one or two of those kids in a snap - and he would have driven off. The way they go barreling down small streets is criminal. It seems the bigger or the more expensive their vehicle, the faster they drive.

By the way, for anyone who doesn't like to stop at red lights or who likes to drive fast; I have NEVER seen a car pulled over for going through a red light and never seen anyone pulled over for speeding. The only traffic cop stops I've ever seen in hundreds of hours on the roads have been motorbike checks - and 90% of the people pulled over for that are (surprise!) pretty college girls. As for the plethora of other dangerous driving habits - well, I'll let you guess how seriously they get enforced. Hint, the number of arrests rhymes with 'hero'

[Sir Burr]

I see the "hang 'em high, throw away the key" brigade are out in force, egging each other on.

Edited July 16, 2007 by Sir Burr

[Sir Burr]

If the man was drunk, then he will get the book thrown at him. But, that fact maybe just incidental. The accident could still have happened if he was stone, cold sober.

Four on a motorbike, probably no helmets, possibly no lights and maybe the motorcycle just pulled out without looking, which I'm sure you know, is the rule, rather than the exception for Thai drivers.

My point is, is that without the facts, maybe you guys shouldn't be so quick to condemn.

[hkt83100]

[...], possibly no lights and maybe the motorcycle just pulled out without looking, which I'm sure you know, is the rule, rather than the exception for Thai drivers.[...]

Probably driving on the wrong side of the road, which is also one of the favourites. I've seen that so many times... Edited July 16, 2007 by hkt83100

[soundman]

First off - condolences to the departed. RIP.

In any auto accident in Thailand, where a larger vehicle strikes a smaller vehicle or a pedestrian & someone is killed - the driver is guilty - even if it was an accident totally beyond his control.

The police will make a charge of the equivalent of vehicular manslaughter. To stay out of jaol you have to pay a bond of between 120k - 150k baht. This is normally covered by the vehicle insurance. If the vehicle has no insurance you will have to cover the bond by yourself. If you hit and run - no bail, stay in jaol until the court hearing.

Be careful on the roads.

Mao mai cup na!

Soundman.

[Gimbo]

If the man was drunk, then he will get the book thrown at him. But, that fact maybe just incidental. The accident could still have happened if he was stone, cold sober.

Four on a motorbike, probably no helmets, possibly no lights and maybe the motorcycle just pulled out without looking, which I'm sure you know, is the rule, rather than the exception for Thai drivers.

My point is, is that without the facts, maybe you guys shouldn't be so quick to condemn.

'

I'll quicly condemn any idiot who drink and drive and kills a whole family in the process. If the Thais are such bad drivers, the more reason to keep alert by staying sober while driving.

[wadsy]

My deepest condolences to the family.

In any auto accident in Thailand, where a larger vehicle strikes a smaller vehicle or a pedestrian & someone is killed - the driver is guilty - even if it was an accident totally beyond his control.

I found that hard to believe Soundman and according to a senior Thai Police Officer my g/f spoke to today, that does not automatically occur. Being a 'smaller vehicle' doesn't automatically exempt you from disobeying the traffic reg's or driving/riding without due regard to other road users. We were informed that if you were at fault in a serious/fatal crash, IRRESPECTIVE of whether you were a 'smaller vehicle' or not, then you wore it.

Maybe you are referring to the standard Thai attitude of 'smaller gives way to bigger' mentality that the majority of drivers/riders seem to have on these roads but it certainly isnt written in statutes nor a legal right, according to him.

[sbk]

Well, I find it in extremely poor taste that some posters feel the need to blame the victims with absolutely no proof whatsoever.

No one knows what really happened, except, apparently a very drunk Canadian had an accident with a family on a motorbike and killed 3 of them. Judgment on the family or their driving skills is really unnecessary and, again, in extremely poor taste considering the price they have paid.

Lets try to remember that there are grieving people out there when posting and try to show some good judgment ourselves when doing so.

[soundman]

My deepest condolences to the family.

In any auto accident in Thailand, where a larger vehicle strikes a smaller vehicle or a pedestrian & someone is killed - the driver is guilty - even if it was an accident totally beyond his control.

I found that hard to believe Soundman and according to a senior Thai Police Officer my g/f spoke to today, that does not automatically occur. Being a 'smaller vehicle' doesn't automatically exempt you from disobeying the traffic reg's or driving/riding without due regard to other road users. We were informed that if you were at fault in a serious/fatal crash, IRRESPECTIVE of whether you were a 'smaller vehicle' or not, then you wore it.

Maybe you are referring to the standard Thai attitude of 'smaller gives way to bigger' mentality that the majority of drivers/riders seem to have on these roads but it certainly isnt written in statutes nor a legal right, according to him.

No probs. Fair comment! Big vehicle, small vehicle, any vehicle. Generally deemed by the police as the bigger of the two is the first to be at fault. Not law, but the perception of it.

For the sake of theorising, lets just call it a head on collision between two toyota camrys. Occupant of one dies. Both drivers will be charged and "wear it" as you have pointed out. Until there is either a settlement between the injured parties, or if there is an impasse, a ruling by the court, both parties are guilty of vehicular manslaughter.

I have gone through this process twice in five years with two accidents involving staff members driving a vehicle that has been involved in a fatal collision.

Soundman.

[crocodilexp]

Probably driving on the wrong side of the road, which is also one of the favourites. I've seen that so many times...

They're ALL driving on the wrong side of the road in Thailand. I was the only one on the right with my motorbike, and barely survived it. What's up with these people?

Condolences to family.

Don't throw away the key yet -- let's maybe hear the full facts first.

[Sir Burr]

Don't throw away the key yet -- let's maybe hear the full facts first.

Exactly my point (take note SBK)

[kevc]

I live in Issan and have been warned more than once to keep well clear of the big construction site lorries, if they knock you down they've been known to back up over you to finish the job.

I agree that most motorbike riders have no road sense at all through experience, but if you drive a car drunk your guilty, if you had obeyed the law then you wouldn't have been in that car driving and a poor girls family would still be alive.

[lannarebirth]

If the man was drunk, then he will get the book thrown at him. But, that fact maybe just incidental. The accident could still have happened if he was stone, cold sober.

Four on a motorbike, probably no helmets, possibly no lights and maybe the motorcycle just pulled out without looking, which I'm sure you know, is the rule, rather than the exception for Thai drivers.

My point is, is that without the facts, maybe you guys shouldn't be so quick to condemn.

Facts are seldom important in these cases. If he was drunk and responsible , he will pay compensation and do jail time. If he wasn't drunk and responsible he will pay compensation and possibly serve a little jail time. If he was drunk and not responsible, he will pay compensation and do jail time. If we wasn't drunk and not responsible he will pay compensation and likely avoid jail time. It's a very sad story all around. I'm very sorry for the mother who's lost her family.

Edited July 16, 2007 by lannarebirth

[kankaroo]

Very sad and also too common. I admit that I myself have driven after a few beers or so, but only on a small scooter which I drive like an OAP as I am aware my senses are impaired. I would not however consider driving something that weighs over a tonne in weight, along dark streets in a country famous for maniacal driving whilst intoxicated.

[Head Snake]

I would just like to say that as part of my move to foreign lands, I have been given a car allowance. I choose not to buy/lease a car. Nor do I choose to drive a vehicle. My choice.

Why? Because I do not wish to be a driver involved in any incident where I am a guest of a country.

I also know I don't ever drink one drink. As such, I don't need these worries. I don't want to live without freedom with any guilt on my conscience.

RIP to all the innocent.

Perhaps the motor sai driver did not want to stop due to the weight unbalance. Bad Mistake if so. I think the media should do more to instruct overweight/unbalanced motor sai operation.

Oh... and was the motor sai driver sober??

Edited July 16, 2007 by Head Snake

[LoveDaBlues]

In Thailand, lines painted on roads, traffic lights, traffic signs and driving rules are merely suggestions.

I know a guy that was STOPPED in traffic at a red light. A drunken Thai on a motorbike came around the corner too fast; lost control and hit the guy in the side of his car. The car owner's insurance company paid for everything including the repairs to the drunk Thai's motorcycle. They stated, "you were in the bigger vehicle so we pay". TiT.