Tollway Crash Teenager Gets Two-Year Suspended Sentence

[nontabury]

Isn't there at least a punishment in the form of 'lifetime ban from driving' among Thai laws ?!

The chances are that this girl will be out and about, driving a car within a few months.

She will most likely not give a thought to the victims of her actions,why should she,they are not important.well not in her mind or her families.

[Pimay1]

Isn't there at least a punishment in the form of 'lifetime ban from driving' among Thai laws ?!

The chances are that this girl will be out and about, driving a car within a few months.

She will most likely not give a thought to the victims of her actions,why should she,they are not important.well not in her mind or her families.

A few months? You are very generous. How about today.

[Tomtomtom69]

I hate to say it but, if you are so terribly offended, stop prostituting your morals and go back to where you came from, where there is a justice system you understand.

I hate to say it, but, if you don't like what you read don't read the forum.... See my point ? The 'If you don't like it go home' argument is so fundamentally flawed yet overused it only presents its users lack of brain function.

What a dopey cop out answer. I have never once whinged about Tv...only some dopey comments. You are trying to impose your values into a completely foreign culture. I have followed Tv for years but never bothered to post because of the habitual Thai bashing. Yep the go home attitude comes up all the time. I wonder why? Because so many of you (from reading posts) can say nothing positive about Thailand that the only intelligent response is ... 'Take your hand off the hotplate if it is getting burnt'. Do I like everything here? Hell no, there is so much dopey stuff going on but.. I choose to stay here and I will go back to where I came from when I decide. Maybe these whingers should go and live in China or Afghanistan... but they don't because (and here is the point) life is too good for them here.

China is a great place to live, thank you very much. Stop the habitual China bashing please...China will own you before you know it, so just learn to accept that fact. Afghanistan can't seriously be compared to China - what have you been smoking?

[Fozfromoz]

I hate to say it but, if you are so terribly offended, stop prostituting your morals and go back to where you came from, where there is a justice system you understand.

I hate to say it, but, if you don't like what you read don't read the forum.... See my point ? The 'If you don't like it go home' argument is so fundamentally flawed yet overused it only presents its users lack of brain function.

What a dopey cop out answer. I have never once whinged about Tv...only some dopey comments. You are trying to impose your values into a completely foreign culture. I have followed Tv for years but never bothered to post because of the habitual Thai bashing. Yep the go home attitude comes up all the time. I wonder why? Because so many of you (from reading posts) can say nothing positive about Thailand that the only intelligent response is ... 'Take your hand off the hotplate if it is getting burnt'. Do I like everything here? Hell no, there is so much dopey stuff going on but.. I choose to stay here and I will go back to where I came from when I decide. Maybe these whingers should go and live in China or Afghanistan... but they don't because (and here is the point) life is too good for them here.

China is a great place to live, thank you very much. Stop the habitual China bashing please...China will own you before you know it, so just learn to accept that fact. Afghanistan can't seriously be compared to China - what have you been smoking?

Bit sensitive? He mentioned the word China once, and I don't see habitual bashing?

[seajae]

One thing I have noticed over here is the amount of underage drivers/riders in new cars/on new bikes/scooters. It would seem that wealthy parents are promoting their kids to break the law by buying them these motorized death dealers and letting thewm do so without a licence so the parents should also be liable for any damage/deaths these idiots cause. Problem is that here money talks, if you have it you can do as you please. All you can do is shake your head when a 12 or 13 y/o rides past you on a new bike but they are everywhere.

[Nisa]

the law is very clear regarding sentences of juveniles and it is not about setting examples and it is not about punishment but it is about rehabilitation. If a jail sentence isn't going to do her good then it shouldn't be imposed. If the court felt like she made a terrible mistake that she regrets and will not do again then the sentence was appropriate as it leaves room for her to still be locked up if she screws up over the coming years. In the west chances are you rarely if ever hear about a minor being sentenced as a minor because it is kept secret .. not to mention the fact any punishment would have to end by the time the person reached 21 (at least in the US). So, if she is 18 now, that would be 3-years.

But lets not let reality stand in the way of conspiracy theories and other non-sense including her family having money or status because a number of the victims were certainly not from poor families and were well connected and respected.

Even as an adult in Thailand, there is great leniency given to those who make "mistakes" the first time and show remorse. Penalties can be severe but suspended sentences are extremely common for first offenses, especially when it is a crime without malice.

Firstly, I very much doubt you are familiar with the law regarding the sentencing of juveniles in Thailand. Stick to pointless comparisons with the US which seem to predicate your every post.

There's no conspiracy theories or nonsense here, just the ugly reality of Thai society raising it's head.

The Juvenile Laws in Thailand pretty much adhere to international standards of not seeking punishment but rather the concern is what will help her to become a productive member of society.

[mancub]

the law is very clear regarding sentences of juveniles and it is not about setting examples and it is not about punishment but it is about rehabilitation. If a jail sentence isn't going to do her good then it shouldn't be imposed. If the court felt like she made a terrible mistake that she regrets and will not do again then the sentence was appropriate as it leaves room for her to still be locked up if she screws up over the coming years. In the west chances are you rarely if ever hear about a minor being sentenced as a minor because it is kept secret .. not to mention the fact any punishment would have to end by the time the person reached 21 (at least in the US). So, if she is 18 now, that would be 3-years.

But lets not let reality stand in the way of conspiracy theories and other non-sense including her family having money or status because a number of the victims were certainly not from poor families and were well connected and respected.

Even as an adult in Thailand, there is great leniency given to those who make "mistakes" the first time and show remorse. Penalties can be severe but suspended sentences are extremely common for first offenses, especially when it is a crime without malice.

Firstly, I very much doubt you are familiar with the law regarding the sentencing of juveniles in Thailand. Stick to pointless comparisons with the US which seem to predicate your every post.

There's no conspiracy theories or nonsense here, just the ugly reality of Thai society raising it's head.

The Juvenile Laws in Thailand pretty much adhere to international standards of not seeking punishment but rather the concern is what will help her to become a productive member of society.

These Laws may adhere to International standards , but so do many other good Thai Laws and regulations ...ie The Highway Code, problem being that they simply are'nt followed or enforced to those same standards that they advocate.

[Briggsy]

One thing I have noticed over here is the amount of underage drivers/riders in new cars/on new bikes/scooters. It would seem that wealthy parents are promoting their kids to break the law by buying them these motorized death dealers and letting thewm do so without a licence so the parents should also be liable for any damage/deaths these idiots cause. Problem is that here money talks, if you have it you can do as you please. All you can do is shake your head when a 12 or 13 y/o rides past you on a new bike but they are everywhere.

Indeed, it drives my girlfriend nuts. She sees it as a foolish thing for the parents to do lavishing money and bikes and cars on their teenage kids. I agree with her. But it has become the cultural norm for the middle class here.

But back on topic, the family of the girl involved here are well above the middle class and a car is mandatory for Thais in that stratum of society. What they should have done is provided a car and driver rather than having her drive the car herself.

[Yahooka]

Civil charges will hopefully bankrupt the family . . . a very low price to pay for so many lives

No it will not bankrupt them,make a little dent in their fortune.That family is high so which means their fortunes are big !!

[binjalin]

the law is very clear regarding sentences of juveniles and it is not about setting examples and it is not about punishment but it is about rehabilitation. If a jail sentence isn't going to do her good then it shouldn't be imposed. If the court felt like she made a terrible mistake that she regrets and will not do again then the sentence was appropriate as it leaves room for her to still be locked up if she screws up over the coming years. In the west chances are you rarely if ever hear about a minor being sentenced as a minor because it is kept secret .. not to mention the fact any punishment would have to end by the time the person reached 21 (at least in the US). So, if she is 18 now, that would be 3-years.

But lets not let reality stand in the way of conspiracy theories and other non-sense including her family having money or status because a number of the victims were certainly not from poor families and were well connected and respected.

Even as an adult in Thailand, there is great leniency given to those who make "mistakes" the first time and show remorse. Penalties can be severe but suspended sentences are extremely common for first offenses, especially when it is a crime without malice.

Firstly, I very much doubt you are familiar with the law regarding the sentencing of juveniles in Thailand. Stick to pointless comparisons with the US which seem to predicate your every post.

There's no conspiracy theories or nonsense here, just the ugly reality of Thai society raising it's head.

The Juvenile Laws in Thailand pretty much adhere to international standards of not seeking punishment but rather the concern is what will help her to become a productive member of society.

and the victims? the parents? giving her licence back at 25 helps her to be 'productive'? no sense of responsibility here? it's 'ok'??? the problem is Thai's, generally, have no sense of personal responsibility whether it be parking, cheating or killing people

[Sing_Sling]

Civil charges will hopefully bankrupt the family . . . a very low price to pay for so many lives

No it will not bankrupt them,make a little dent in their fortune.That family is high so which means their fortunes are big !!

Don't be fooled . . . the dead are being represented by some very good pro-bono lawyers who couldn't give a toss about the girls' parents wealth . . . and it isn't infinite. Several millions per death are being discussed for lost earnings etc . . .

[nontabury]

Civil charges will hopefully bankrupt the family . . . a very low price to pay for so many lives

No it will not bankrupt them,make a little dent in their fortune.That family is high so which means their fortunes are big !!

Don't be fooled . . . the dead are being represented by some very good pro-bono lawyers who couldn't give a toss about the girls' parents wealth . . . and it isn't infinite. Several millions per death are being discussed for lost earnings etc . . .

Several millions per death,lets say 3 million per person, that's a total of 37 million baht,that's peanuts to this family's.If the figure is 13 million per death,that would hurt, but only a little.

[Huayrat]

Mass murder and still walking the streets... Thailand the HUB of suspended sentences

[Sing_Sling]

Civil charges will hopefully bankrupt the family . . . a very low price to pay for so many lives

No it will not bankrupt them,make a little dent in their fortune.That family is high so which means their fortunes are big !!

Don't be fooled . . . the dead are being represented by some very good pro-bono lawyers who couldn't give a toss about the girls' parents wealth . . . and it isn't infinite. Several millions per death are being discussed for lost earnings etc . . .

Several millions per death,lets say 3 million per person, that's a total of 37 million baht,that's peanuts to this family's.If the figure is 13 million per death,that would hurt, but only a little.

I guess you must know their financial situation better . . . 37 million being peanuts and 100 million would only hurt a little

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Seems there's a bit of news about this case in the Thai media lately.... Most of the item below is a rehash, except for the compensation part at the end.

Victim’s Families of Tragic Toll-way Crash in Bangkok receive Compensation
but Young Driver so far Avoids Detention
Aug 20, 2013

CityNews – The 2010 accident that became a huge controversy involving a 17 year old female driver and took nine lives on the Donmueng toll-way is back in the Thai press after the victim’s families were paid some compensation.

The tragic crash happened December 2010 when a van travelling to Thammasart University was smashed into by a seventeen-year-old girl in her Honda Civic. Nine people died and five more were injured after the van lost control and flipped onto its side.

The accident gained wide media attention when it was discovered that the girl did not have a license. She was also photographed ‘texting’ after the crash while bodies lay strewn on the floor. Public outcry ensued and Facebook pages were set up to criticize the girl.

Many Thais voiced that this was another case of double standards concerning justice and status in Thai society as it became known that the girl's family were wealthy. At the time Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the media that nobody was above the law.

The girl has still not served any time in jail as her family fight the lawsuit against her. The families have so far been paid a total of 900,000 baht each by Navakij Insurance Public Company Limited.

It was reported in Khaosod that the Thammasart Law Center and families of the victims will sue the girl’s family in Civil Court for compensation.

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=2216

http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM05qa3lOVE16Tnc9PQ==&sectionid=

AFAIK from the OP post in this thread, the teenager got a suspended jail sentence, meaning she wouldn't be required to serve any time in jail/prison, unless she somehow violated the terms of her sentence.

It sounds from the Thai translation of the Khaosod article that there's still some legal appealing going on, though I couldn't make out from the translation of what or by whom.

Edited August 21, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's a better report and translation from yesterday's Coconuts Bangkok website:

Victims' families from 2010 Donmueng toll crash receive compensation, but driver still not in prison
By Coconuts Bangkok

August 20, 2013

The victims' families from a tragic 2010 van accident will finally receive some financial compensation from the insurance company that covered the driver.

The Navakij Insurance Public Company Limited agreed to pay compensation for the crash, which took place at the Donmueng Tol1.

In December 2010, a van to Thammasart University was hit by a Honda Civic car driven by a seventeen-year-old girl who didn’t have a license. The van flipped over, resulting in nine deaths and five injuries.

The insurance company agreed to pay THB600,000 to each victim’s family in addition to the THB300,000 for each family’s hospital bill and funeral cost. The Criminal Court had issued a preliminary ruling that the defendant would spend two years in prison, but the girl’s family is continuing to fight the lawsuit in The Court of Appeals.

The insurance company, which was involved only in the civil case, decided to offer the victims’ families compensation regardless the final judgment from the court. The families of the victims agreed to withdraw charges against the company.

As for the driver’s family, the Thammasart Law Center and families of the victims said they will sue them in the Civil Court for compensation.

Asst. Prof. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, the Asssistant Rector of Thammasart University and the member of Thammasart Law Center said the case has been prolonged as the defendant insists on the lawsuit in the Court of Appeals. He personally wants the defendant to show responsibility for the accident she caused.

Thammasart University and the victims’ family requested the minor driver to take responsibility, Khaosod reported.

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2013/08/20/victims-families-2010-donmueng-toll-crash-receive-compensation-driver-still-not-prison

Again curiously, none of these news reports are mentioning the actual name of the girl or the family involved, although those details were widely publicized at the time of, and in the wake of, the crash.

Is the girl's family really appealing the original Criminal Court sentenced of a two-year suspended jail term???

I don't recall ever seeing any news report indicating that???

Edited August 21, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[arthurwait]

Which drivers insurance company ?

As said before nothing reported on this case except her being underage is true.

That's why there is no name now.

[Skywalker69]

This makes me want to puke.

[ginjag]

This makes me want to puke.

Yes and most of us can remember the posters who were crying at the time because she was a minor. Not a lot of sympathy for the families who lost loved ones, and even in the last two days a poster mentioned that some of the victims families were well to do. That makes the pain less. ???

Do we all notice that these said posters are not spouting off so much, and not even coming clean and agreeing that this all stinks.

I remember you lot who were in sympathy with the girl and her family-PEWK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

My recollection of the past comments here is that most people thought the girl got off VERY light considering the deaths and injuries that occurred. And many here chalked it up to a poor Thai justice system combined with the apparent status and influence of the girl's family.

AFAIR, a much smaller portion of members here seemed to think the outcome was OK and that the girl as a minor didn't deserve any jail time for the various things she did and caused.

As for the case, perhaps the family doesn't want the girl to be carrying around a criminal conviction for the rest of her life, for whatever difference that makes in Thailand. Or perhaps, they're just trying to win her driving privileges back...

[ratcatcher]

Orachorn Thephasadin Na Ayudhya

When one has a family name like this, one does not do time. Compensation will be duly paid and case closed. Na?

[Langsuan Man]

Or perhaps, they're just trying to win her driving privileges back...

She didn't have a license at the time, so how can you get back , what you never had ?

[JLCrab]

What may prove the undoing of the young woman defendant is that the van -- instead of having maybe 9 factory workers -- had passengers from Thammasart University whose Law Center is taking charge of advocating the victim's families' rights as plaintiffs.

[EyesWideOpen]

Orachorn Thephasadin Na Ayudhya

When one has a family name like this, one does not do time. Compensation will be duly paid and case closed. Na?

I did remember her last name was Ayudhaya. Guess there is hiso with few Mercedes cars, and then there

is REALLY hiso. So yeah the odds of her doing hard time is nil. Interesting that in the current news stories

about her , her name is never mentioned. Guess the media is afraid or have been told to not use her name.

And the odds of some pro bono lawyers getting a massive settlement for the victims is...........nil.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Or perhaps, they're just trying to win her driving privileges back...

She didn't have a license at the time, so how can you get back , what you never had ?

the teenager is banned from driving until she is 25 years old.

In a sense, the court did take away a privilege she had yet to qualify for...that being the right to drive once she was old enough to have and qualify for a license.

Surely you can understand, what an awful imposition it must be for the girl to be banned from driving until she's 25... That's certainly grounds for a legal appeal.