Driver kills 3 cops trying to run checkpoint, Bangkok police say

[webfact]

Driver kills 3 cops trying to run checkpoint, police say
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Three police officers were killed when a speeding SUV drove onto a sidewalk at a checkpoint in western Bangkok last night.

At about 11pm, a Mitsubishi Pajero driven by Navaporn Phetkaew, 25, attempted running a police checkpoint on Borommaratchachonnani Road when it went up the curb and struck a group of policemen who were on break and resting inside a tent.

Metropolitan police Lt. j.g. Anake Roonnoi, Lt. Cmdr. Yanyong Anand and Lt. Cmdr. Songpol Prommala died, and three others were injured. [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/04/28/driver-kills-3-cops-trying-run-checkpoint-police-say


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-04-28

[Costas2008]

I wonder if he had a driving licence.

Also wonder what his punishment will be.

500Baht for each life taken?

RIP to the 3 dead policemen.

[DLock]

If only he was in a Ferrari....everything would be ok.

[NongKhaiKid]

In the thread to the main story Police said he wasn't drunk but lost control because he was driving too fast but the headline says he was trying to run the roadblock. If driving too fast maybe panicked and lost control is quite different from the deliberate act of driving fast to get through the roadblock and should upgrade charges in respect of the deaths but TIT.

The BIB should have waited but never do before running off at the mouth to the media.

[mickjn]

They would have already belted the living suitcases out of him and there will be a lot more coming.They were police he is going to get a long stretch who ever he is and do hard time.May the Lord Buddha protect the policemen in His Great Temple

[laurentbkk]

oh well a few slaps on the butt and a blame ...maybe community services for few hours and this will be forgotten ...

[Lite Beer]

3 Cops Killed At Checkpoint by 'Speeding' Motorist

By khaosod Eng.



BANGKOK — Three police officers were killed last night when a motorist lost control of his vehicle and slammed into their checkpoint on a highway in Bangkok.

Police in Taweewattanadistrict received reports about the accident at midnight and arrived at the scene on Boromratchachonnanee Road with rescue workers to find an obliterated police checkpoint with a crashed, blood-stained Mitsubishi Pajero parked 30 metres away.

Two police officers were found dead, and four other officers were severely injured by the crash. One of the wounded officers later died at a hospital, and the rest remain in critical condition, medical workers said.

The police arrested the driver of the vehicle, who was identified as Nawapon Petchkaew, 24.

Pol.Cpt. Wasan Chaemmankong said Mr. Nawapon was speeding down a highway ramp when he lost control of his car. He eventually crashed it into a tent of police officers at Bangkok Yai Police checkpoint, before colliding with another car 30 metres away.

Some of the police officers were "dragged" by the car until it came to a halt, Pol.Cpt Wasan added.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Chayut Thanataweerat said the two police officers who died were "rookies" who had recently started working with the police force.

Mr. Nawapon was given an alcohol test but the results showed he was not intoxicated at the time of the crash, Pol.Maj.Gen. Chayut said. Mr. Nawapon will also be tested to determine whether he was under the influence of any illegal drugs at the time of the accident, said Pol.Maj.Gen. Chayut.

It is not immediately clear whether Mr. Nawapon has been charged with a crime.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1398666876&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2014-04-28

[Lite Beer]

Three policemen killed, three others injured by speeding vehicle
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Three policemen were killed and three others injured when a speeding sports utility vehicle crashed into their road checkpoint late on Sunday night.

The accident happened at 11.30pm on the outbound Borom Ratchanonnee Road in front of Boonthaworn shop in Thawee Watthana district.

The speeding Mitsubishi Pajero crashed into a tent housing the policemen on the sidewalk at the checkpoint and also hit two other cars parked in front of Boothaworn.

Two policemen died at the scene and another was pronounced dead at the Buddhamonthon hospital.

The Pajero driver was identified as Nawaporn Phetkaew, 25. He was not under the influence of alcohol, police said.

The dead were identified as Pol Lance Corporal Yanyong Anan, Pol Lance Corporal Songpol Prommala and Pol Sub Lt Anek Noomnoi.

Nawaporn said he was extremely sorry for the accident. He said he was using his father's SUV and was unfamiliar with the controls.

He said the accident occurred when he unsuccessfully tried to overtake a car only to see a vehicle coming the other way. As he swerved back to the left lane, he lost control, hitting his head on the wheel and dropping his glasses. He didn't see the police tent until he hit it.

Thamsala police station chief Pol Col Thawat Wongsanga said Nawaporn did not test positive for drugs or alcohol but he had eyesight problem. He did not have mental problems either, Thawat said.

-- The Nation 2014-04-28

[JRSoul]

Nawapon Petchkaew aka Mr Magoo.

"Road Hog!"

Edited April 28, 2014 by JRSoul

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I believe the recent trend in punishment for killing multiple people when behind the wheel of a car is prison sentence suspended and 40+ hours community service...

Edited April 28, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[metisdead]

Some nonsense posts questioning the news sources choice in wording when publishing the article has been removed. If the question is that important, send your query to the news source and ask them rather than derailing the topic with nonsense.

[marko kok prong]

so he unsuccessfully tried to overtake a car,why does this not surprise me.

[Thaiisnotrequired]

I've been in a head-on collision, both as a passenger and as a driver. I never once lost my glasses. Lame excuse for wreckless driving!

[kannot]

In the thread to the main story Police said he wasn't drunk but lost control because he was driving too fast but the headline says he was trying to run the roadblock. If driving too fast maybe panicked and lost control is quite different from the deliberate act of driving fast to get through the roadblock and should upgrade charges in respect of the deaths but TIT.

The BIB should have waited but never do before running off at the mouth to the media.

Those road blocks are major accidents waiting to happen, I have a checkpoint by me and you regularly see cars in the central drainage ditches upside down where the driver rushed up the closed inner lane only realising there was the outer lane open for a check and then swerving over to the outer lane and if not them then forcing others into the ditch.

Like all Thai road works "advance" warning is pathetic, a few neon tubes AT the actual road narrowing when they should be 1km before.

[kannot]

I believe the recent trend in punishment for killing multiple people when behind the wheel of a car is prison sentence suspended and 40+ hours community service...

dont forget the pat on the back from pralad as well.

[ezzra]

The driver's lawyers should advise him to quickly change his name to Na Audhaya something....

[connda]

Sorry to hear. RIP to the officers and condolences to the family. If he tried that in the USA, half his body weight would have been hot lead compliments of the now heavily armed, militarize police agencies in the country. Shoot first ask questions later. Sort of like the old days in the wild, wild West.

Edited April 28, 2014 by connda

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed, I think some of you are looking for this topic:

Fatal Bangkok crash: Teenager sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for reckless driving

[technologybytes]

When the headline says a foreigner is killed the first 10 comments are RIP and condolences to the family.

3 police die and the tone is very different, why ??

This is a tragedy, whatever the result of the investigation there are 3 policemen dead and 3 injured, the families of these men will suffer and it seems nobody cares.

[MMarlow]

If only he was in a Ferrari....everything would be ok.

Why? Do you think that Ferrari drivers get away with incidents like that? Or do they perhaps have to go on the run whilst the investigation is still very much alive and charges are outstanding and face the music at some time?

[monkeycountry]

I do not think you are allowed to overtake on highway ramps. In any case speeding is not allowed.

[Fookhaht]

"Unfamiliar with the controls."

Hmmmm. Let's see...

Steering wheel, accelerator, brake.

What else did he need to "control" the vehicle to avoid an accident in this case? And how different could those three key controls be from other cars? What is he used to driving on the streets? A speed boat?

Edited April 28, 2014 by Fookhaht

[connda]

When the headline says a foreigner is killed the first 10 comments are RIP and condolences to the family.

3 police die and the tone is very different, why ??

This is a tragedy, whatever the result of the investigation there are 3 policemen dead and 3 injured, the families of these men will suffer and it seems nobody cares.

Hummm. My post said RIP and condolences to the family. This is tragic.

[MMarlow]

In the thread to the main story Police said he wasn't drunk but lost control because he was driving too fast but the headline says he was trying to run the roadblock. If driving too fast maybe panicked and lost control is quite different from the deliberate act of driving fast to get through the roadblock and should upgrade charges in respect of the deaths but TIT.

The BIB should have waited but never do before running off at the mouth to the media.

Or maybe the police know that he was trying to run the checkpoint, and they're not running their mouths off to the media unlike many posters here who do run their mouths off in an effort to discredit the police even when they themselves are the victims of an incident.

[marko kok prong]

In the thread to the main story Police said he wasn't drunk but lost control because he was driving too fast but the headline says he was trying to run the roadblock. If driving too fast maybe panicked and lost control is quite different from the deliberate act of driving fast to get through the roadblock and should upgrade charges in respect of the deaths but TIT.

The BIB should have waited but never do before running off at the mouth to the media.

Those road blocks are major accidents waiting to happen, I have a checkpoint by me and you regularly see cars in the central drainage ditches upside down where the driver rushed up the closed inner lane only realising there was the outer lane open for a check and then swerving over to the outer lane and if not them then forcing others into the ditch.

Like all Thai road works "advance" warning is pathetic, a few neon tubes AT the actual road narrowing when they should be 1km before.

Agree recent roar works near me they put a bloody log of wood just in front of the freshly tarmaced section,a disaster for anyone on a motorbike with less than perfect eyesight,you literally could not see it until right on top of it,jeez a can of white spray paint and at least it could be seen,but i guess not in the budget.

[Johnnie99]

"He said he was using his father's SUV and was unfamiliar with the controls."

[monkeycountry]

When the headline says a foreigner is killed the first 10 comments are RIP and condolences to the family.

3 police die and the tone is very different, why ??

This is a tragedy, whatever the result of the investigation there are 3 policemen dead and 3 injured, the families of these men will suffer and it seems nobody cares.

I think many ppl care just as much about the police suffering as the police generally seem to care about ordinary peoples suffering.

[Zodaka]

Who makes the headlines for thaivisa?

If u read the articles kindly posted it seems that he did not try to run the checkpoint but rather overtake another vehicle before he got to the stop.

[NongKhaiKid]

In the thread to the main story Police said he wasn't drunk but lost control because he was driving too fast but the headline says he was trying to run the roadblock. If driving too fast maybe panicked and lost control is quite different from the deliberate act of driving fast to get through the roadblock and should upgrade charges in respect of the deaths but TIT.

The BIB should have waited but never do before running off at the mouth to the media.

Or maybe the police know that he was trying to run the checkpoint, and they're not running their mouths off to the media unlike many posters here who do run their mouths off in an effort to discredit the police even when they themselves are the victims of an incident.

Then why 2 different versions to the media ?

Oh sorry you're the one who is supposed to be picky, didn't mean to sound like you.

[NanLaew]

...

The BIB should have waited but never do before running off at the mouth to the media.

The members should have waited (for more reporting) but never do before running off at the mouth on TV.