Drunken Songthaew Driver Causes Fatal Crash in Samut Prakan

Picture from responders

A crash in Samut Prakan has resulted in the death of a female motorcycle passenger and serious injuries to her husband after a  songthaew driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, collided with their motorcycle. The incident occurred on the morning of 21 February, near Paolo Hospital in Phra Samut Chedi district.

Police were alerted to the scene at approximately 10:30 where a blue Isuzu songthaew, operated by a 54-year-old driver, Mr. Narinth was involved in a collision with a Honda Wave 100 motorcycle, which was being ridden by a couple. The impact caused the motorcyclist to lose control, resulting in Mr. Soleap Hing, a Cambodian national, sustaining injuries, while his wife, Miss Sory Sai, lost her life when she fell under the wheels and was run over.

Emergency responders transported both individuals to Paolo Hospital, where Miss Sory Sai was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Upon arrival at the crash scene, police conducted an investigation and collected evidence, including reviewing CCTV footage. Mr. Narinth was found to be incoherent, leading officers to administer an alcohol breath test, which revealed a blood alcohol level above the legal. As a result, he was taken into custody and faces serious charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in injury and death.

Mr. Narinth could face a prison sentence of three to ten years, along with fines ranging from 60,000 to 200,000 baht, and the revocation of his driving license. The specific charges against him include:

1. Operating a public vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, resulting in injury and death.

2. Driving while intoxicated, causing the death of another.

3. Reckless driving leading to fatal consequences.

Witnesses and fellow employees recounted the events leading up to the collision. Mr. Nithinart, the fare collector on the songthaew, stated that he had urged the driver to be cautious as they had already been involved in a near-miss with another motorcycle the previous day. He expressed concern over the speed at which Mr. Narinth was driving, noting that several passengers had requested to disembark early due to the reckless driving.

In a heartfelt statement, Mr. Nithinart lamented the fate of Miss Sory Sai, saying, “I feel sorry for the woman who was crushed under the vehicle. With public transport drivers driving like this, who would want to use their services again? I urge drivers to adhere to normal driving speeds and not rush unnecessarily. Safety should always come first.”

-- 2025-02-22