SAMUT PRAKAN, THAILAND – A married couple were struck and killed by a pickup truck on Thepharak Road on the night of 23 February, with the driver held in police custody on suspicion of a deliberate attack.
Fatal impact on Thepharak Road
The collision occurred at around 10 p.m. at kilometre 25 of Thepharak Road near Khlong Hua Kluea in Bang Sao Thong subdistrict, Samut Prakan province, a densely populated fringe area of the capital region. Emergency responders from Bang Sao Thong Police Station and the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, along with an on-duty doctor from Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital, found a white box-type pickup with a heavily damaged front.
Under the rear axle of the vehicle, officers discovered the body of 44-year-old Wichate, while 38-year-old Pannipa was found lying near the crash site. Police said both victims died at the scene and were married.
The driver, 35-year-old Kritsada, was found at the location and taken into custody after investigators secured the first traces of evidence and cordoned off the busy road. Officers began documenting the scene as they initiated a wider investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Victims and initial findings at the scene
Investigators noted the position of the bodies relative to the pickup and the damage pattern on the vehicle’s front section. They also examined the surrounding area on Thepharak Road to determine the path of the motorcycle and the truck before impact.
Police confirmed that Wichate had been trapped under the rear axle, while Pannipa was thrown a short distance away from the main point of impact. Both were pronounced dead before they could be transported to hospital.
According to officers, the driver remained at the scene until police and rescue teams arrived. He was then escorted to Bang Sao Thong Police Station for questioning and further testing.
Driver claims accident, family alleges intent
In an initial interrogation, Kritsada told investigators he had tried to avoid a motorcycle emerging from a side street, lost control and hit the couple’s motorcycle. He said that in a panic he mistakenly floored the accelerator, which caused the pickup to run over the couple.
He denied any intent and described the incident as an accident. However, relatives of the deceased woman told police that Kritsada was her former boyfriend and said they were convinced
“that it was intentional,”
said the family members, adding that he had allegedly tried to ram the couple with a vehicle about two weeks earlier.
Officers recorded the family’s statements as part of the case file. They indicated that the prior alleged attempt would be examined in parallel with the current investigation.
CCTV footage suggests possible ambush
Investigators then reviewed surveillance cameras along the road and found that, according to the footage, the pickup was parked at 9:39 p.m. with its headlights off near the entrance to the woman’s accommodation. The images gave the impression that the driver had been waiting at that location.
At 9:42 p.m., another sequence showed the headlights being switched on as the couple rode their motorcycle out of a side lane. The pickup then accelerated sharply, and a different camera captured the moment the vehicle hit the motorcycle from behind.
Police said the CCTV timeline would be central to determining whether the collision was accidental or premeditated. They continued to collect additional recordings from nearby properties along Thepharak Road.
Witness accounts and possible further charges
A 40-year-old witness, Jakkrit, told police that the pickup was not travelling at very high speed but appeared to run over the couple more than once. He said he saw the woman still moving under the vehicle before the driver got out, looked under the truck, climbed back into the cab and tried to reverse, but was prevented from doing so by the body trapped under the axle.
Another resident, 39-year-old Penporn, reported that the driver briefly embraced the woman’s lifeless body and asked her to notify the authorities. He then left the crash site on foot.
Investigators said these eyewitness accounts would be compared with the CCTV sequences and forensic evidence. They indicated that inconsistencies between the driver’s statement and external observations could lead to more serious accusations.
Drug evidence and ongoing investigation
According to police, no alcohol was found in Kritsada’s blood, but drugs were detected. He was initially charged with driving under the influence of drugs and with causing death by reckless driving.
Officers stated that they were continuing to gather CCTV evidence and to assess possible intent. They said that if deliberate action was proven, additional charges up to and including murder could follow.
For the time being, Kritsada remained in custody at Bang Sao Thong Police Station. Investigators said further witness interviews and technical analyses were underway as they worked to clarify whether the fatal collision on Thepharak Road had been an accident or a targeted attack.