Ratchaburi, Thailand – Two women were seriously injured in a night-time collision with a pick-up truck in Ratchaburi province, whose driver turned himself in around 13 hours later.
Accident on rural road at night
The collision occurred on 14 April at about 00:30 a.m. on the Phikunthong–Ban Rai Chao Nuea road (Moo 3, Tambon Phikunthong, Amphoe Mueang) in Ratchaburi province. According to initial information, a white pick-up moved onto the lane of an oncoming motorcycle while overtaking and sideswiped it.
Both women on the motorcycle fell and suffered severe injuries. Emergency responders found a heavily damaged Yamaha-Fino motorcycle at the scene.
Both women treated for severe injuries
The 21-year-old rider, referred to in the report as “A”, sustained serious leg injuries and received medical treatment on site. The 20-year-old passenger, Thanyaporn, was taken to Ratchaburi Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Doctors had to amputate her leg. Later, medical staff confirmed she had been three months pregnant and that the consequences of the injuries had led to a miscarriage.
Hit-and-run and difficult overnight search
The pick-up involved left the scene immediately after the collision. Police launched a search and coordinated patrols to comb the surrounding area.
Because several turnoffs were available in the area and the crash happened at night, the vehicle initially remained untraceable. The police chief of Mueang Ratchaburi ordered a systematic review of surveillance cameras along possible escape routes.
CCTV review leads to petrol station near crash site
Investigators followed the trail to the area around the Huai Chin Si junction (Tambon Ang Thong) and asked local authorities and community leaders to help persuade the driver to come forward voluntarily. CCTV footage from a petrol station near the Chedi Hak junction showed the driver inspecting damage to the vehicle after the crash.
The recordings also showed him changing a damaged tyre before driving away again. Police used these images to narrow down their search and reconstruct the vehicle’s movements.
Family publicly demands accountability
Relatives of the badly injured Thanyaporn were informed in hospital about her condition and the medical consequences. The family spoke out, saying the driver should accept responsibility for the outcome of the crash.
“The driver must answer for the consequences of this accident.”
said family members, relatives of the victim.
According to medical assessment, it was expected that Thanyaporn would permanently depend on assistive devices. The precise course of her recovery remained unclear.
Driver surrenders and gives his account
On 14 April at about 2:00 p.m., the 48-year-old driver presented himself at the police station in Mueang Ratchaburi. He stated that he had felt an impact while overtaking and assumed he had hit an animal.
He said he only learned from media reports that people had been injured and then went to the station of his own accord. Police took his statement and initiated a blood draw for an alcohol test.
Conflicting statements on alcohol
When asked about alcohol, the man initially admitted to having drunk something. He later qualified this and claimed he had consumed only water and non-alcoholic drinks, saying he had not been drunk.
The result of the blood test was not yet available at the time of reporting. Police opposed releasing him on bail during the ongoing investigation; a final decision on this rested with the Ratchaburi provincial court.
Three criminal charges filed
Police initially filed three criminal complaints against the driver: negligent driving causing serious injury to others, property damage, and fleeing the scene without providing assistance or reporting the accident. Depending on the outcome of the investigation and the alcohol test, additional charges could follow.
The case was handed over to the Ratchaburi public prosecutor’s office for further action.