A Thai taxi driver struck and killed a Laotian woman at a zebra crossing in the central province of Pathum Thani while she was carrying her five month old son, who is now in critical condition.
The fatal accident occurred at 10pm yesterday, June 29, on Lam Luk Ka Khlong 4 Road in Lam Luk Ka district. The taxi driver responsible for the crash failed to stop and assist the victims, prompting other motorists who witnessed the incident to chase after him.
The driver was eventually apprehended near the Khlong 5 area and identified as Amarin Boontor. The front left of his car and windscreen were visibly damaged. He was handed over to officers from Khukot Police Station for an alcohol test, which returned negative.
Police later confirmed to Channel 7 that the deceased was 34 year old Laotian national, Ningnong Phetlavanh, and her five month old son. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while her son was found crying about five metres away.
Ningnong reportedly worked at a restaurant near the accident site. She had just finished work and was carrying her son and an electric fan while crossing the road to return home on a zebra crossing.
Amarin claimed he was neither under the influence of alcohol nor drugs at the time. He stated he had not noticed the woman and her child crossing the road and had collided with them at high speed.
Amarin is facing two charges:
- Section 291 of the Criminal Law: Reckless driving causing death. The penalty is imprisonment of up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to 200,000 baht.
- Section 78 of the Land Transport Act: Causing damage through negligent driving and failing to stop and assist the victim. The penalty is imprisonment of up to six months, a fine ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 baht, or both.
The baby reportedly sustained a broken leg and is receiving treatment at Thammasat University Hospital. He is now under the care of his Thai father following the death of his mother.
The woman’s employer, 54 year old Wiwat, invited a monk to perform a ritual at the accident scene. He told the media that Ningnong crossed the road at that zebra crossing every day and expressed his sorrow for the family and sadness that such a tragedy occurred in what should have been a safe zone.
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