Thai hit and run driver who killed two year old was high on beer and Ya Ba, say police

[rooster59]

Thai hit and run driver who killed two year old was high on beer and Ya Ba, say police

KHON KAEN:-- Police in Khon Kaen have announced the arrest of a driver wanted for killing two cyclists and severely injuring another while driving a car last Thursday week.

Police say that Apichart Saengkarn has admitted to driving while drunk and under the influence of Ya Ba, reports Manager Online.

He is said to have fallen asleep at the wheel and ploughed into the bikes on the Sri Chan Road in downtown Khon Kaen. Police believe the vehicle was travelling at over 120kmph.

Following the accident, which resulted in the death of a two year old girl and her grandmother, he abandoned his car in fright and went to hide with relatives in Chumporn in the south of Thailand.

Police have fingerprinted the suspect and taken DNA to compare with the abandoned vehicle as they take care to ensure a conviction.

Police learnt that Apichart also had a previous offence to his name of stealing some years ago.

Source: Manager Online

-- 2016-05-07

[clockman]

Iam sure alot of Thai men. Are driving around like this? Drugs are in every village!

[starky]

My condolences to the family, a terrible tragedy to lose one so young. Who falls asleep on yaba? Strange defence. I know it won't happen but something really needs to be done when you can use your addictions as an excuse for your actions and it should be automatic conviction for those that wilfully leave the scene of a crime particularly when it involves a homicide.

[ezzra]

I'd be very surprise if the article would say that this man was high on mineral water and a plate of tofu..

the sad part is, that there many thousand just like him running around looking for an accident to happened......

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Ya Ba...this drug is the scourge of Thailand. Behind the scenes are police and officials raking in millions. What does it take to really tackle crime and corruption? Mai Pen Rai is not the way.

[KhunBENQ]

The "it could be you" feeling.

After having seen the somewhat blurry video last week I already suspected that I know this stretch of road.

It's indeed a route I use regularly driving back home from Khon Kaen.

Yaba, yaba everywhere. It''s in every small village, in the schools,...

It's everywhere, nothing has improved.

And what does the new strong man do?

Edited May 7, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[gchurch259]

I have not been a violent person all my 81 years, but I get tired of reading about how inhumane some people in this country are. I realize many here have little hope of attaining even a part of what some of from other countries have or have earned. So they turn to drugs and alcohol to escape their existence !

They still have no right to do what I read about, gang muggins, killing, child rape, animal mutilation I am now in favor of one 9MM between the eyes and put them out of their pain and help protect the citizens and visitors to this Beautiful Country. Been here 12 years and seems to be getting worse.

[Bob12345]

My condolences to the family, a terrible tragedy to lose one so young. Who falls asleep on yaba? Strange defence. I know it won't happen but something really needs to be done when you can use your addictions as an excuse for your actions and it should be automatic conviction for those that wilfully leave the scene of a crime particularly when it involves a homicide.

I don't think that the addiction part is a defense, more an explanation or admittance of guilt.

Its not that the judge will be lenient because he says he uses alcohol and drugs all the time.

Agree with you on the automatic conviction when running from the scene. Unfortunately there is still a lynch mob mentality (similar to here on TV where people love to come up with sick and ancient ways of torture for anybody who is a suspect in a crime involving an animal, a kid, or someone who cannot defend themself), and as long as that has not been tackled first I cannot blame this person for making a runner.

[prakhonchai nick]

If laws are to be enforced, then the penalties must be very very high. Paltry fines, community service and the like are NOT the answer.

Nobody needs to receive punishment, if they obey the laws (whether of not they like them)

Make all motoring offences carry a MINIMUM 5,000baht fine. Leaving the scene of an accident (whether death or injuries or not) should carry a mandatory prison sentence on top of punishment for any other offence committed. Drug users/pushers should be hit especially hard. Bail should NOT freely be given, especially where death is involved (murder or otherwise) I could go on, but pointless, since nothing will ever change here in Thailand,

Help the guilty parties, but nobody cares about the victims, and those that will sadly follow them.

Edited May 7, 2016 by prakhonchai nick

[Bob12345]

The "it could be you" feeling.

After having seen the somewhat blurry video last week I already suspected that I know this stretch of road.

It's indeed a route I use regularly driving back home from Khon Kaen.

It's what stopped me from riding a bike here on Phuket.

No matter how careful you are, there can always be that a**hole coming from behind just ploughing your life away.

[hutchings1963]

There is a women in our village who buys the ya ba from the police,then when she sells it,she tells police to arrest them,last week some people were playing cards only 5 bht a time she phoned the police.

[klauskunkel]

Police say that Apichart Saengkarn has admitted to driving while drunk and under the influence of Ya Ba

Police have fingerprinted the suspect and taken DNA to compare with the abandoned vehicle as they take care to ensure a conviction.

Would you look at that, the test for Red Bull must have come up negative.

[ameadi]

ŔIP little Angel with grandma

[paddyjoe41]

Beats me where they get the money for all this beer and ya ba,and why get so high as to be incapable of behaving oneself?Surely they can get high near home where they can walk or taxi,but then i suppose THEY COULD get killed or run over by a friend,and that would never do,ESPECIALLY if that friend did a runner.

[SOTIRIOS]

...oh....so innocent then....???

...who gives a da*n......except to file more charges against him......if any.....

...asleep....afraid......same old, same old nonsense...

...'excuse'....'explanation'....then 'apology'.......and everything is okay....

****

...while we recently read about the foreigner in jail...being molested..etc...... charged with manslaughter.....

[khomlong1]

Yeah, should be convicted for murder and receive the death penalty. Until the authorities set an example, this carnage will never end.

[Squigy]

No education...no future...sums Thailand up

[Americano555]

It's the plight of the country that the government is feeding this addiction, so as they don't get too vocal and too stupefy the Thai people while they reap their own bank accounts.

[little mary sunshine]

Tragic senseless deaths. Sad for the family.

Should be charged with:

Driving under the influence

Speeding

Reckless driving

Leaving accident

Failure to render assistance

Causing death by vehicle: 2 counts

Sentence 20 years in prison...minimum!.,.,

[oxo1947]

I have not been a violent person all my 81 years, but I get tired of reading about how inhumane some people in this country are. I realize many here have little hope of attaining even a part of what some of from other countries have or have earned. So they turn to drugs and alcohol to escape their existence !

They still have no right to do what I read about, gang muggins, killing, child rape, animal mutilation I am now in favor of one 9MM between the eyes and put them out of their pain and help protect the citizens and visitors to this Beautiful Country. Been here 12 years and seems to be getting worse.

Yes you were indeed unfortunate to migrate to the only country in the world that has people driving under the influence of drink?drugs.

And after 81 years as a pacifist ----maybe executing everyone just to eradicate their pain of living here , although very altruistic, just maybe a small step to far..................................

[outsider]

Good job. Swift justice - but only applicable to those who are not as well-connected or higher up the food-chain as some other Thai 'drivers'.

This man needs to be put away for what he did, but if the brown clowns think this saves their sorry faces from their inaction in other cases, they're wrong. Everytime they go around beating their chests about how they've basically done a good job, they're actually underlining their ineptness and in the process, ripping their own faces off by the chunks.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

There is nothing anyone can do.Not even our PM.This country has been in the grip of this vile drug(and others) for many years now.It was here before Thaksin before his sister and before leagues of pm's before them.It can never be stopped because its the people on high that will make sure it can never be stopped,because they profit so highly from it.It doesnt matter how many you catch,or pretend to catch,there will always be somebody ready and willing to fill the gap.Other nearby countries also contribute to the manufacturing,trafficking and distribution of this drug.The lure of easy money is strong when you have f##k all.There is so much debt and hardship in this country (no matter what the authorities would like us to believe)We,as being expats ere have seen it and some have experienced it.The Thai rage,the bloodlust,the crime,the murder of children and the jealousy of men over women.This is all due to this filth being drip fed into the people.And then, even our prime minister makes sexual remarks about women and the police dismiss attempted rape out of hand.

Our wonderful leaders,talk about bringing happiness back to the people.How?with a bag full of pills in one hand and a bottle of loa kao in the other.

Things will never change here,because with this filth,the people can be controlled and thats what they want.No one here wants the uneducated being able to think for themselves.

I dont care how you wrap it up.This is a 3rd world country because the leaders want it to be and as long as they can get this shit so easilty nothing will change.

No,my friends,drugs are a way of life here,and nothing you do,say or suggest is going to change it.

But beware the two children of the future,hunger and want.beware them both,but beware want more.It is he who will drag this country deeper,into the mire in which it is already up to waist height.

[eddie61]

Ya Ba...this drug is the scourge of Thailand. Behind the scenes are police and officials raking in millions. What does it take to really tackle crime and corruption? Mai Pen Rai is not the way.

It takes a functioning justice system..... but we won't live to see that here.

[Yann55]

The "it could be you" feeling.

After having seen the somewhat blurry video last week I already suspected that I know this stretch of road.

It's indeed a route I use regularly driving back home from Khon Kaen.

Yaba, yaba everywhere. It''s in every small village, in the schools,...

It's everywhere, nothing has improved.

And what does the new strong man do?

He talks.

[mesterm]

Good job. Swift justice - but only applicable to those who are not as well-connected or higher up the food-chain as some other Thai 'drivers'.

Or the "drink-chain" like say, Red Bull?

[TKDfella]

There is nothing anyone can do.Not even our PM.This country has been in the grip of this vile drug(and others) for many years now.It was here before Thaksin before his sister and before leagues of pm's before them.It can never be stopped because its the people on high that will make sure it can never be stopped,because they profit so highly from it.It doesnt matter how many you catch,or pretend to catch,there will always be somebody ready and willing to fill the gap.Other nearby countries also contribute to the manufacturing,trafficking and distribution of this drug.The lure of easy money is strong when you have f##k all.There is so much debt and hardship in this country (no matter what the authorities would like us to believe)We,as being expats ere have seen it and some have experienced it.The Thai rage,the bloodlust,the crime,the murder of children and the jealousy of men over women.This is all due to this filth being drip fed into the people.And then, even our prime minister makes sexual remarks about women and the police dismiss attempted rape out of hand.

Our wonderful leaders,talk about bringing happiness back to the people.How?with a bag full of pills in one hand and a bottle of loa kao in the other.

Things will never change here,because with this filth,the people can be controlled and thats what they want.No one here wants the uneducated being able to think for themselves.

I dont care how you wrap it up.This is a 3rd world country because the leaders want it to be and as long as they can get this shit so easilty nothing will change.

No,my friends,drugs are a way of life here,and nothing you do,say or suggest is going to change it.

But beware the two children of the future,hunger and want.beware them both,but beware want more.It is he who will drag this country deeper,into the mire in which it is already up to waist height.

The final quote aptly taken from Charles Dickens?

[Broken Record]

Iam sure alot of Thai men. Are driving around like this? Drugs are in every village!

That's true, Alcohol is everywhere, and in my experience, it's not just Thai men who drive under the influence, plenty of Farang are doing the same..

Edited May 7, 2016 by Broken Record

[jeab1980]

If laws are to be enforced, then the penalties must be very very high. Paltry fines, community service and the like are NOT the answer.

Nobody needs to receive punishment, if they obey the laws (whether of not they like them)

Make all motoring offences carry a MINIMUM 5,000baht fine. Leaving the scene of an accident (whether death or injuries or not) should carry a mandatory prison sentence on top of punishment for any other offence committed. Drug users/pushers should be hit especially hard. Bail should NOT freely be given, especially where death is involved (murder or otherwise) I could go on, but pointless, since nothing will ever change here in Thailand,

Help the guilty parties, but nobody cares about the victims, and those that will sadly follow them.

What other country in the world has a mandatory prison sentence for leaving the scene of an accident! !!!. It is not murder unfortunately it only carries a death by reckless driving charge. Bail is a normal Condition all over the civilized world. I fully agree this driver deserves many years in prison for his acts, but Wether he will or not is up to a judge not us farangs. You can not ask for laws in Thailand that don't exist in your own country. Like it or not Thailand's has its laws it's way of doing things. Fine you may not like it or disagree strongly that's your right. But screaming for your changes will do nothing to change things. Edited May 7, 2016 by jeab1980

[shirtless]

What i could not believe with this idiot was he was smiling at the press interview,

[Lupatria]

Its time for the hub of copies to copy something useful: apply Singapore drug laws and penalties!