Pattaya Dusit Thani Hotel Chef Killed

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: July 1st 2008

PATTAYA DUSIT THANI HOTEL CHEF KILLED IN HIT-AND-RUN INCIDENT

A Pattaya Dusit Thani Hotel chef was yet another victim of a hit-and-run collision, early today, 1 July ‘08, at the intersection of Sukhumvit and North Pattaya Roads. Pattaya Pol.Maj Suriya Wariwong, Pattaya Police Inspector, was informed at 3.00 am that a man on a motorbike had been hit by an unidentified van and was apparently killed instantly.

A police team, accompanied by a Sawang Boriboon Rescue Team, rushed to the scene of the accident, but found that the initial report was correct and that the motorcyclist, Mr. Boontham Jompoon(31), from Moo. 9, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi, was indeed dead. The hit and run victim was lying on his back, in a severe condition, with head injuries and broken arms and legs. According to witnesses, the van, which had been travelling at considerable speed, impacted his body extremely hard. The van had jumped a red light and, following the accident, sped away in the direction of Chonburi, without stopping. Police also found Mr. Boontham's blue Honda Wave motorbike, lying on the ground, badly damaged, next to his body.

Miss Boombim (alias), the distressed sister of the victim, told police that her brother worked for Dusit Thani Hotel as a cook and had been taking care of the family. The previous night, he had gone out to see his friend and had called her shortly before his death to tell her he was on his way home.

Police presumed the speeding van was travelling too fast either to stop for the red light or to avoid Mr. Boontham on his motorbike as he was trying to cross the street. The van driver was also obviously attempting to avoid arrest for dangerous driving as he made his escape without stopping or to report the incident. Police are scanning CCTV footage to identify the van and its driver, who will face criminal charges if and when he is eventually apprehended.

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Notes:

Normally, locals are aware of the appalling road habits of all too many drivers in Pattaya, who have only recently even begun to stop at red lights at all, compounded by the often faulty operation of the traffic lights, the apparent inactivity of the police who are ostensibly manning the roadside police boxes at junctions and the fact that there appear to be few road traffic police patrols, apart from the occasional roadblock. Almost invariably, drivers speed up as lights are about to change, or on semi-permanent amber, and resort to sounding their horns as a deterrent to would be road-crossers at junctions, whether pedestrians, motorcyclists, or vehicle drivers. However, visitors and tourist to Pattaya are frequently, not so aware.

Only recently, on June 16, 28, there was a case of fatal hit-and-run involving a British female tourist to Pattaya, Jennifer Burden, 26, who was struck trying to cross Pattaya Third Road opposite the Mityon Company in Central Pattaya at 2:35 a.m. by an unidentified driver in a four-door green pickup, who police are still trying to trace. The victim later died in hospital.

The police's task in trying to apprehend hit-and-run offenders is often inordinately difficult, especially late at night, due to poor road lighting, the general emptiness of the streets, the notoriously poor memory of the average witness, and the reluctance of individuals to become involved because of the inconvenience of having to spend long hours in the police station because of the lengthy processing time. The matter is further compounded if a foreigner is involved, often requiring translators.

Readers might wonder why PDN doesn't always follow up the case to find out the result and keep on reporting. The truth is we have, as in the cases of murders like the two Russian women last year and the recent one-legged Finn, various suicides, the sea-rescue team's inactivity, the road budget, the Karaoke mission, the internet and music copyright cases, cases of human trafficking, the local election etc. However, it is often extremely difficult to penetrate the veils thrown over such cases by ongoing police investigations and the Thai judicial system. Nevertheless, we do our best to bring the truth as far as we are able to our readers, even at risk of closure!

This is an account of the Pattaya Daily News Editor’s interview with a high ranking police officer at Pattaya Police Station

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: July 1st 2008

Local Chef killed in hit-and-run accident in North Pattaya.

Police Major Surreyar from Pattaya Police Station was called to the scene of a suspected hit-and-run accident which occurred at the Sukumvit Road intersection with the North Pattaya Road. The victim, Khun Boontum aged 31, who worked as a Chef at the Dusit Thani Resort, was lying in the road.

His distraught sister was at the scene and explained that, moments before the crash, Khun Boontum had called to inform her that he was on his way home following a night out with his friends. According to witnesses, his motorbike collided with a Van which jumped a red traffic light at the junction. The Van failed to stop at the scene of the crash and is now being located by Police who are in the process of checking CCTV footage.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya One News

[Humphrey Bear]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: July 1st 2008

Notes:

Normally, locals are aware of the appalling road habits of all too many drivers in Pattaya, who have only recently even begun to stop at red lights at all, compounded by the often faulty operation of the traffic lights, the apparent inactivity of the police who are ostensibly manning the roadside police boxes at junctions and the fact that there appear to be few road traffic police patrols, apart from the occasional roadblock. Almost invariably, drivers speed up as lights are about to change, or on semi-permanent amber, and resort to sounding their horns as a deterrent to would be road-crossers at junctions, whether pedestrians, motorcyclists, or vehicle drivers. However, visitors and tourist to Pattaya are frequently, not so aware.

Only recently, on June 16, 28, there was a case of fatal hit-and-run involving a British female tourist to Pattaya, Jennifer Burden, 26, who was struck trying to cross Pattaya Third Road opposite the Mityon Company in Central Pattaya at 2:35 a.m. by an unidentified driver in a four-door green pickup, who police are still trying to trace. The victim later died in hospital.

The police's task in trying to apprehend hit-and-run offenders is often inordinately difficult, especially late at night, due to poor road lighting, the general emptiness of the streets, the notoriously poor memory of the average witness, and the reluctance of individuals to become involved because of the inconvenience of having to spend long hours in the police station because of the lengthy processing time. The matter is further compounded if a foreigner is involved, often requiring translators.

Readers might wonder why PDN doesn't always follow up the case to find out the result and keep on reporting. The truth is we have, as in the cases of murders like the two Russian women last year and the recent one-legged Finn, various suicides, the sea-rescue team's inactivity, the road budget, the Karaoke mission, the internet and music copyright cases, cases of human trafficking, the local election etc. However, it is often extremely difficult to penetrate the veils thrown over such cases by ongoing police investigations and the Thai judicial system. Nevertheless, we do our best to bring the truth as far as we are able to our readers, even at risk of closure!

This is an account of the Pattaya Daily News Editor’s interview with a high ranking police officer at Pattaya Police Station

Well said - PDN!

Is there a new editor working for you - who hasn't yet understood how 'News' is (mis)reported in Pattaya?

What was, in my opinion, one of the lesser rags in Pattaya has just advanced a couple of notches. HM - please take note.

[Reason for edit - reduce irrelevant (to my comments) part of quote]

Edited July 3, 2008 by Humphrey Bear

[Briggsy]

Well said Pattaya Daily News. I liked that bit about veils, that was a lovely use of metaphor.

So, I for one, will be renewing my (hypothetical) subscription to the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS.