Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath.

 

A shocking incident in Krabi’s Ao Nang district left one teenage boy dead and three others injured after a group of youths reportedly opened fire on a pickup truck in the early hours of the morning of 4 April, only to be involved in a crash shortly afterwards.

 

The drama unfolded around 01:30, on the Khuan Kin Nam–Ao Nang Road, where police and forensic officers were called to the scene following a reported shooting and subsequent crash involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck.

 

 

At the scene, officers found a black Honda Wave motorcycle wrecked and lying in a roadside drainage ditch. About 30 metres away, a black Mitsubishi pickup truck was discovered in a ditch on the opposite side of the road.

 

Police initially received a report of a motorcycle crash with multiple casualties. Rescue teams arrived to find four injured teenagers aged between 14 and 17 lying in tall grass near the drainage area. All were rushed to Krabi Hospital, where one of the boys, identified as Rattanakorn 16, later died from his injuries. Another teen, Muazzil 15, sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg and remains in serious condition.

 

The driver of the pickup, 35-year-old Yodrak Noupan, a local contractor, told police he was heading home with a workmate after finishing a job in Ao Nang when he encountered the group of teenagers riding two motorcycles. One of the bikes was carrying four male youths, while the other had a male rider and a female passenger.

 

According to Mr Noupan, as he was driving behind them, one of the teens riding pillion on the first motorcycle suddenly pulled out a gun and fired three shots at his vehicle. He ducked instinctively to avoid being hit, losing control of the pickup in the process. He claimed he was unaware whether his vehicle struck the motorcycle, only realising he had veered into the ditch moments later. Mr Noupan sustained minor facial injuries from the steering wheel impact.

Police say there is no indication that the two parties knew each other prior to the incident. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and establish any motive for the shooting before charges are formally laid.

 

Authorities attended the scene later in the morning, to gather evidence, for ballistic and forensic analyses, while questioning those involved. The incident has raised fresh concerns over rising youth violence and the increasing prevalence of firearms among teenagers in the region.

 

-- 2025-04-05

 

 

Sounds like justice was served. One hopes the pickup driver is not charged.

Good riddance, deserves ir