Accident Senior Police Officer Drives Against Traffic, Kills 64-Year-Old Woman in Ratchaburi Crash

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A senior police officer is under investigation after allegedly driving against the flow of traffic and fatally crashing into a 64-year-old woman on a motorcycle in Ban Pong district. The incident occurred around 08:00, on 26 June along Songphon Road in Nong Or Subdistrict, Ratchaburi.

 

The victim, identified as Ms. Kai, was critically injured and later pronounced dead at Ban Pong Hospital. She had been riding a Honda Spacy i motorcycle, which was left mangled at the scene. Police identified the driver of the black-grey Honda HR-V involved in the collision as Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwat Khunchaiwatthana, a Special Operations Inspector with the Provincial Police Region 7 Investigation Division. He sustained head and chest injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment at the same hospital.

 

Witnesses reported that the officer was initially driving slowly on the wrong side of the road, creating confusion among oncoming motorists. When traffic at a nearby intersection was halted by a red light, the vehicle then accelerated and struck the victim’s motorcycle head-on. The crash was caught on camera by another driver.

 

 

One witness, Mr. Jay, said he initially thought the driver might be a foreigner unfamiliar with Thai traffic laws but later learned the driver was Thai. “It caused chaos on the road,” he said. “And then it turned into tragedy.”

 

The victim’s niece, Ms. May, expressed her heartbreak upon recognising her aunt in the widely circulated video. She said Ms. Kai had just dropped her son off at work and was heading home at the time of the crash. “She was the backbone of our family,” Ms. May said, noting her aunt had been caring for the household since the passing of her husband two years ago.

 

Ms. May also issued a plea to drivers under the influence: “If you’re not sober, just stay home. Don’t destroy someone else’s life.”

 

Ban Pong police chief Pol. Col. Kobchok Lektrakun confirmed that a blood alcohol test was conducted on Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwat and the results are currently pending. “We will conduct a thorough investigation and question the officer once he is medically fit,” he said.

 

Police have initially charged the officer with reckless driving causing death. If the blood test confirms alcohol intoxication, a further charge of driving under the influence will be added.

 

Authorities have pledged a fair and transparent investigation, assuring the public that justice will be served for both parties involved.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-27

 

 

[bkk6060]

Negligent manslaughter should go to prison.

[daveAustin]

With the current focus on road safety, targeting motorcyclists, persistently checking licenses etc, this perp should absolutely be made an example of. Guessing he was too ‘important’ to wait in regular traffic and tried to short cut between lights. 

[Jim Blue]

Noticed that Thai's often speed when driving the wrong side. Western people tend to carefully  crawl along...just in case  ..

[JimHuaHin]

The law-breaking police force.

 

What a big joke Thailand has become,

[chuang]

Do you know who I am....

[ChrisY1]

We won't read about this little gem again I think.....what hope is there for anyone here when the supposed upholders of law and order are really just uneducated oafs?

[NE1]

They just don't want to ride / drive that extra kilometre to make a u turn.

See it everywhere , though not driving as quickly as that.

[bg53]

On 6/27/2025 at 5:39 AM, Georgealbert said:

Ban Pong police chief Pol. Col. Kobchok Lektrakun confirmed that a blood alcohol test was conducted on Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwat and the results are currently pending.

 

Anyone taking bets? JK

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 6/27/2025 at 5:39 AM, Georgealbert said:

identified the driver of the black-grey Honda HR-V involved in the collision as Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwat Khunchaiwatthana, a Special Operations Inspector

Look at the guy, not even bothered assisting the woman.

 

Creep. 

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 6/27/2025 at 7:45 AM, JimHuaHin said:

The law-breaking police force.

 

What a big joke Thailand has become,

 

It has never been anything different.

[Mr Meeseeks]

The Station Police Chief has refused to criticise the officer or condemn his actions apparently. Thai social media is going mental over this. 

 

It just proves, once again, Thailand is still very much rooted in the third World.

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Officer Apologises at Funeral After Fatal Wrong-Way Crash in Ratchaburi

 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

A senior police officer who drove against traffic and caused a fatal crash has publicly apologised to the family of the victim during a traditional funeral rite at Wat Plak Raet, Ban Pong district.

 

The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of 26 June, when Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwat Khunchaivattanakit, an officer with the Provincial Police Region 7’s Special Operations Division, was driving a black Honda HR-V with registration number from Ratchaburi, against traffic on Saeng Chuto Road in Nong Or Subdistrict. His vehicle collided head-on with a red-black Honda Spacy motorcycle, registered from Bangkok, ridden by Ms. Juthathip Promsap 64, a local resident. She sustained critical injuries and later died in hospital.

 

The victim’s son, Mr. Watchara Kongma 42, told reporters at the temple that while the officer had come to apologise and discuss compensation, the family was not yet ready to engage in such matters. “Right now, our focus is on the funeral. We don’t want money, we want justice,” he said, visibly emotional. “My mother is gone forever. No amount of money can bring her back.”

 

Mr. Watchara said the officer appeared to be under the influence when they met, stating, “I could still smell alcohol.” He also expressed concern about the delay in receiving the official blood test results, which police said could take up to seven days. “If this were an ordinary citizen who drove drunk, they would already be in jail by now,” he remarked, calling on Ban Pong Hospital and the police to expedite the test results and ensure fair treatment under the law.

 

Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwat arrived at the funeral to formally apologise. In a solemn moment, he lit incense and performed the traditional Thai ritual of khor khama (asking forgiveness) before the body of Ms. Juthathip. He also poured ceremonial water as part of the last rites and offered condolences to her children. He vowed to take full responsibility for the funeral expenses and expressed remorse, saying only that he had already given a full statement to investigators and came to the temple out of sincere guilt.

 

The officer himself reportedly suffered injuries in the crash, including trauma to his right arm and chest.

 

The funeral and nightly chanting ceremonies for Ms. Juthathip Promsap will continue until 3 July. Members of Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwat’s family have also been attending the rites alongside the grieving relatives.

 

The case has drawn public attention as concerns mount over the impartiality of legal proceedings involving law enforcement officers. The victim’s family has made it clear that their priority is justice and transparency, not compensation.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-06-29

 

 

 

 

 

[JoePai]

He should be in jail - oh no sorry, I see he's a Pol. Lt. Col.