Police Truck Flips Over: Mentally Ill Detainee Grabbed Steering Wheel, One Person Dead

[webfact]

 

Loei—On April 21st, 2024, Pha Khao police officers received a report from locals that a patrol police truck flipped over on Nong Tana-Non Somboon Road, Pha Khao, Loei, causing three injuries and one casualty.

Pha Khao emergency services and police officers were dispatched to the accident scene and found a Pha Khao patrol police truck flipped over at the roadside and collided with many trees. It was reported that three police officers were able to crawl from the flipped-over police truck and one officer was still stuck inside.

 

The rescue teams attempted to rescue the remaining officer from the truck, however, the officer was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to the police report, Pha Khao police officers previously received a report from locals that a mentally ill man was acting abnormally. Four patrol police officers then went to pick up the mentally ill individual at the hospital to receive medical treatment at a special psychiatric facility.

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-04-22

 

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[Geoffggi]

Too many unknowns here like why a mentally ill man was placed in a position whereby he was able to grab the steering wheel, how was he behaving abnormally, why was he not placed in handcuffs 

[steve187]

24 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Too many unknowns here like why a mentally ill man was placed in a position whereby he was able to grab the steering wheel, how was he behaving abnormally, why was he not placed in handcuffs 

did he grab the wheel, or is it being said he grabbed the wheel

he should of been in the back seat behind the front seat passenger, with seat belt on  with someone sitting next to him behind the driver without seat belt on.

[webfact]

Psychiatric patient’s actions lead to fatal crash during transfer
by Petch Petpailin 

 

Photo via Facebook/ Mahanakhon Khon Kaen

 

A police officer lost his life while transferring a psychiatric patient to a hospital in the Isaan province of Loei after the patient grabbed the steering wheel of the vehicle causing it to crash. Three other police officers sustained injuries.

 

A motorist witnessed a police car overturned on the side of Ban Nongtana Road in the Pha Khao district of Loei province and reported the accident at Pha Khao Police Station.

 

All of the injured victims managed to exit the damaged vehicle safely, except for one officer who remained trapped and, tragically, did not survive. The deceased was identified as Police Captain Waeha Chaising.

According to the surviving police officers, the mother of a psychiatric patient sought police intervention when her son became uncontrollable around 12.30pm yesterday, April 21. Subsequently, four police officers responded by attending to the home of the psychiatric patient in the Nong Hin district of Loei to address the situation.

After effectively calming the patient, the officers proceeded to escort him to the hospital for additional treatment. They allowed the mentally ill individual to sit inside the police pickup without restraints, with his mother accompanying him.

 

Despite efforts to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, the situation took a tragic turn when the patient unexpectedly seized control of the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and overturn. Waeha, sitting next to the driver, was seriously injured and unable to get out of the car leading to his death.

 

Waeha was about to retire on September 30 of this year after serving in the crime suppression department of the Pha Khao Police Station. He intended to transition to standby duty within the police station rather than working outdoors following the conclusion of the Songkran Festival, in anticipation of his retirement.

 

Waeha’s family members, friends, and colleagues expressed their condolences on social media platforms.

 

Many Thai netizens expressed concerns about the safety protocols for officers handling mentally ill patients, while others raised questions about drug issues in Thailand, speculating about the patient’s potential history of drug use.

 

 

Source:: The Thaiger 2024-04-22

 

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[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Loei—On April 21st, 2024, Pha Khao police officers received a report from locals that a patrol police truck flipped over on Nong Tana-Non Somboon Road, Pha Khao, Loei, causing three injuries and one casualty.

Pha Khao emergency services and police officers were dispatched to the accident scene and found a Pha Khao patrol police truck flipped over at the roadside and collided with many trees. It was reported that three police officers were able to crawl from the flipped-over police truck and one officer was still stuck inside.

 

The rescue teams attempted to rescue the remaining officer from the truck, however, the officer was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to the police report, Pha Khao police officers previously received a report from locals that a mentally ill man was acting abnormally. Four patrol police officers then went to pick up the mentally ill individual at the hospital to receive medical treatment at a special psychiatric facility.

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-04-22

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

Many drivers are not detained🥴

[Gandtee]

I don't believe it. I doubt the cops would put the accused in the front seat. More likely the driver cocked up and crashed. Casting the blame on the accused.

[hotchilli]

Buff out the scratches it'll be good to go in no time

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

"They allowed the mentally ill individual to sit inside the police pickup without restraints, with his mother accompanying..."

 

A professional police force???  Training???

 

Where I come from, police vehicles typically have metal grills/screens or other partitions blocking the open space between the front seats and rear seats of those vehicles, specifically to avoid just the kind of incident  that occurred here.

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Backseat_of_the_Georgian_new_police_car.jpg

 

Why Are Wire Mesh Partitions So Important for Police Vehicles?

 

"Almost every law enforcement agency relies on mesh partitions for police vehicles. A partition can improve the safety of passengers, officers, and cargo while also improving the vehicle’s overall functionality. Wire grid partitions give officers additional assurance that they will be safe and fully equipped with the proper gear to carry out their work."

 

https://www.madsenwire.com/blog/why-are-wire-mesh-partitions-so-important-for-police-vehicles/

 

https://www.quora.com/When-did-they-start-putting-partitions-in-police-cars

 

 

 

Edited April 22 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[fredwiggy]

I've seen them in the rear seat many times, where they can lunge ahead and grab the steering wheel. I've also seen them sitting in the back of the pickup, right next to officers who have handguns in reach. This is an accident waiting to happen, as one just did.

[Almer]

Who else but the 3 surviving officers saw the said man being transported grab the wheel ???

[ChrisY1]

Who really knows what happened...looks to me speeding....anyway...the mental guy will take the wrap

[brianthainess]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

They allowed the mentally ill individual to sit inside the police pickup without restraints, with his mother accompanying him.

No mention of his mother or any injuries to her, I'd like to hear her side of the story, not just the cops.

[Hanuman2547]

First off, the detained man should have been handcuffed with his hands behind his back.  Then he should have been placed in a rear seat diagonally from the driver and placed in a seatbelt.  As was shown above you need a police transport vehicle with a shield/wire mesh separating the front seats from the row behind the driver.  The area where the detained person sits also needs to be made of hard plastic for a variety of reasons.  Next, why are they transporting the detained person's mother?  She should find her own way to wherever they are going.  I can only speculate as to why she was being transported so I won't go into that.  Basic LE principles seem to be lacking in the RTP which would have saved this officers life, injuries to others, and the damage to the police vehicle.  

[Humpy]

Perhaps the other police officers were playing with their phones at the time !

[Barnet1900]

On 4/22/2024 at 1:20 PM, Gandtee said:

I don't believe it. I doubt the cops would put the accused in the front seat. More likely the driver cocked up and crashed. Casting the blame on the accused.

My thoughts also.

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, Barnet1900 said:

On 4/22/2024 at 9:20 AM, Gandtee said:

I don't believe it. I doubt the cops would put the accused in the front seat. More likely the driver cocked up and crashed. Casting the blame on the accused.

My thoughts also.

 

My first suspicion too....   

 

Don't they handcuff detainees ??? (behind the back ?)... 

 

Is this a case of saving face ?....     those of us who are cynical may question this... those of us blindly believing what we read may not. 

 

[Barnet1900]

22 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

My first suspicion too....   

 

Don't they handcuff detainees ??? (behind the back ?)... 

 

Is this a case of saving face ?....     those of us who are cynical may question this... those of us blindly believing what we read may not. 

 

The only certainty is that it the truth won't be announced.

 

I've had 2 incidents lately where, although the police weren't involved, it could have gone that way. One was my fault entirely and I took all the overreacting on the chin, paid out what they were after and on we went.

 

The other was entirely the opposite and they should have apologized and made good yet continued to lie and shout and behave like children. The longer it went in the worse it became. In this case I also kept quiet and walked away despite being completely innocent in the fracas. When faced with losing face the locals will stop at nothing to protect their pride.

 

Accepting responsibility just isn't on the cards here. The only ambition you should have is to get away as fast as possible before more get involved and more conflict ensues.

[Will B Good]

Well if I were the driver….I'd blame the mentally ill guy.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/22/2024 at 1:20 PM, Gandtee said:

I don't believe it. I doubt the cops would put the accused in the front seat.

It was not reported that he was in the front seat of the vehicle.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/22/2024 at 2:30 PM, Almer said:

Who else but the 3 surviving officers saw the said man being transported grab the wheel ???

His mother who was there also, presumably.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/23/2024 at 9:26 AM, Hanuman2547 said:

First off, the detained man should have been handcuffed with his hands behind his back. 

First off, he wasn't being detained, he and his mother were being assisted to get treatment for his problem after his mother requested help...

" Four patrol police officers then went to pick up the mentally ill individual at the hospital to receive medical treatment at a special psychiatric facility".

Edited May 7 by Liverpool Lou

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/22/2024 at 1:20 PM, Gandtee said:

I don't believe it. I doubt the cops would put the accused in the front seat.

He wasn't "the accused", he was a patient!

[Liverpool Lou]

On 5/6/2024 at 9:14 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Don't they handcuff detainees ??? (behind the back ?)... 

He wasn't a detainee, he was being taken from a hospital to a special psychiatric facility for treatment.

Edited May 7 by Liverpool Lou

[richard_smith237]

13 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

He wasn't a detainee, he was being taken from a hospital to a special psychiatric facility for treatment.

 

Thanks...  but that begs the question why were the police transferring him in the first place ?... 

 

Is that not something an ambulance does ?... or, in Thailand, is this something the Police assist with and is the norm ?

 

Or...   Was he such a handful that transport via ambulance was not a suitable option, which then also begs the question, why was he not restrained...  

 

 

Questions more rhetorical than aimed at you LL, but of course, if you have answers, feel free to respond. 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

20 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

First off, he wasn't being detained, he and his mother were being assisted to get treatment for his problem after his mother requested help...

" Four patrol police officers then went to pick up the mentally ill individual at the hospital to receive medical treatment at a special psychiatric facility".

 

The updated report gives far better information on what happened... 

 

RIP to the lost officer - they were only trying to help out and it seems the mentally ill individual flipped out 'mid-transport'...  

 

[Gandtee]

23 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

He wasn't "the accused", he was a patient!

Accused? Patient? Whatever. As someone has already suggested he should have been restrained. All conjecture. Yes. In hindsight.🙄

Edited May 7 by Gandtee

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Barnet1900 said:

The other was entirely the opposite and they should have apologized and made good yet continued to lie and shout and behave like children. The longer it went in the worse it became. In this case I also kept quiet and walked away despite being completely innocent in the fracas. When faced with losing face the locals will stop at nothing to protect their pride.

 

Accepting responsibility just isn't on the cards here. The only ambition you should have is to get away as fast as possible before more get involved and more conflict ensues.

 

Similar happened to me...   The other party lied and lied, and then lied some more... until his lies became so obvious even the BiB became annoyed and shouted at him...  This was all working out in my favour as the police who'd initially decided the incident was my fault, shifted in response to my polite but stubborn refusal to accept fault while I highlighted the flaws in the others guys lies....  

 

Longer story than this but police soon shifted ideas and were not on his side !!!... 

 

 

[Almer]

On 5/7/2024 at 9:16 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

He wasn't a detainee, he was being taken from a hospital to a special psychiatric facility for treatment.

On hind sight may have been better in the back tray for his own safety