Thread: Cop charged with reckless driving, causing female doctor's death

So he avoided being breathalysed and wasn't charged for running away.

A crowd control policeman has surrendered to police and admitted to driving a big bike that hit and killed a female doctor in Bangkok on Friday, according to media reports.

The woman was identified as Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, a doctor at Chulalongkorn Eye Centre at the Department of Ophthalmology in Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine.

The fatal accident occurred on Friday at 3.10pm. While Dr Waraluck was using the zebra crossing to walk across Phayathai road in front of Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital, she was struck by a Ducati Monster big bike.

The doctor was seriously injured and admitted to Rajavithi Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The big bike driver was initially reported to be a policeman who left the scene after the accident.

The accident was reported widely on across media, drawing comments from viewers and readers who called for the policeman to surrender and for eyewitnesses to provide information for police to catch him.

On Sunday, Pol Maj Gen Nakarin Sukonthawit, commander of the Protection and Crowd Control Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, identified the big bike driver as Pol L/Cpl Norawich Buadok, an officer under his command.

He said Pol L/Cpl Norawich had surrendered to Phayathai police.

Pol Maj Gen Nakarin said that from his conversation with his subordinate, Pol L/Cpl Norawich was heading for Victory Monument after picking up some documents at the Metropolitan Police headquarters.

He admitted he was driving fast and that after suddenly switching to the far right lane, he sped over the zebra crossing without noticing that other vehicles had stopped, and hit Dr Waraluck. He was also injured and was admitted to Police General Hospital.

Pol L/Cpl Norawich was initially charged with reckless driving, causing death. He confessed to the charge and was released without bail.

Pending the completion of a report, an appointment was made for police investigators to hand him over to prosecutors on March 9 for indictment.

The big bike was sent to the Traffic Police Division for examination. The investigators were waiting for the result of the examination and the autopsy report on Dr Waraluck. Both will be included in the evidence to be forwarded to prosecutors, Pol Maj Gen Nakarin said.

A funeral for Dr Waraluck is being held at Sala 3, Wat Phrasrimathat Mahavoraviharn, in Bang Khen district of the capital. The cremation has been scheduled for Jan 26.

Cop charged with reckless driving, causing female doctor's death

That is a big, expensive bike for a junior cop I would have thought.

Multiple charges, including causing death by reckless driving, have been filed by Phaya Thai district police against a non-commissioned police officer who allegedly ran over a pedestrian on a Phaya Thai Road zebra crossing with his “big bike”.


The fatal accident occurred at about 3.10pm on Friday in front of the Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital and the deceased was identified as Dr. Waraluck Supavatjariyakul, an eye specialist at Ramathibodi Hospital.


Pol Maj-Gen Jirasant Kaewsang-ek, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said today (Sunday) that, besides the reckless driving charge, the suspect, Lance Corporal Naravich Buadok of the riot control police force, is also facing charges of riding his bike too close to the left lane curb, not stopping for people to cross the road on a zebra crossing and riding a bike for which the road tax has not been paid.


The suspect, who suffered minor injuries in the accident, has admitted to all the charges and has visited the victim’s family to offer his condolences, said the deputy commissioner.


The Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital issued a public statement today, urging netizens to stop sharing posts or images of the accident on the social media, out of respect for the deceased and her family.


Multiple charges filed against Thai police officer involved in a fatal accident | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

He confessed to the charge and was released without bail.

If not a tpyo/poor reporting, it's being released without having to pay bail money, only signing a promise to come to court.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

That is a big, expensive bike for a junior cop I would have thought.

Actually not, depending on the model.

Ducati released an ASEAN only Monster 795 around 2012, and are now less than 100k baht for used models.


But, if anyone's thinking of getting one, the Ducati servicing is painful (especially here) they need the belts done every 10k km for starters, and well, let's just leave it there as the forum page isn't long enough.

Originally Posted by misskit

Pol Maj-Gen Jirasant Kaewsang-ek, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said today (Sunday) that, besides the reckless driving charge, the suspect, Lance Corporal Naravich Buadok of the riot control police force, is also facing charges of riding his bike too close to the left lane curb, not stopping for people to cross the road on a zebra crossing and riding a bike for which the road tax has not been paid.

And still nothing for running away.

Originally Posted by Edmond

if anyone's thinking of getting one, the Ducati servicing is painful (especially here) they need the belts done every 10k km for starters, and well, let's just leave it there as the forum page isn't long enoug

Do Ducati make Scoopys now?

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has laid seven charges against the policeman who hit and killed a woman doctor with his Ducati Monster motorcycle on Friday.
MPB deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Jirasant Kaewsang-ek said on Monday that Pol L/Cpl Norawich Buadok was charged with reckless driving causing death, using a vehicle without a licence plate, failing to keep his motorcycle in the left lane, failing to give way to someone using a pedestrian crossing, using a vehicle with unpaid annual registration tax, using a vehicle that lacked required equipment, and not having third-party vehicle insurance.
He said Pol L/Cpl Norawich's blood alcohol test was negative.

Yes, because he ran away and sobered up.

Pol L/Cpl Norawich confessed to the offences. He was temporarily released without bail because he turned himself in and did not tamper with any evidence or witness and did not commit any violent act, Pol Maj Gen Jirasant said.
The suspect met and apologised to the family of the victim and expressed his intention to enter the monkhood, he said.

Of course he did.

Ducati cop who killed doctor faces 7 charges

Some interesting illustrations here.


Tragic accident inspires illustrations highlighting lack of road safety in Thailand

Tragic accident inspires illustrations highlighting lack of road safety in Thailand | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Hey Chico, your sentence is not up yet.

Royal Thai Police to consider removing crosswalk at Kidney Institute Hospital following fatal road accident in Bangkok

The Royal Thai Police is planning to discuss with the Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital regarding the removal of a pedestrian crossing following the fatal accident of female doctor Waraluck Supawatjariyakul last week.


Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner Damrongsak Kittipraphat along with Transport and Traffic officials inspected the crossing near the hospital on Phayathai Road in Bangkok this afternoon, January 26th.

The Deputy Commissioner told the press after the inspection that there were no signal lights at the crosswalk as it was located near Phayathai Intersection where most vehicles would drive at high speed to pass the green lights. Vehicles on the right lane may be visually blocked by other vehicles on the left side, possibly invisible to see any pedestrians.


For Bangkok, the official stated that crosswalk lights and CCTV cameras would be installed at crosswalks. The Ministry of Transport and local authorities were also ordered to assess crossings in its province whether they reached the standard. If not, then they could consider fixing or removing them.

In terms of the controversial crossing, the official would inquire and invite the hospital staff/officials to the meeting with the authorities as regular pedestrians to seek solutions. The accident over the weekend has driven a national discussion around pedestrian safety, including right here at TPN media. Across the country as a result of the tragic accident, crosswalks are being repainted, more warning signs installed, flashing lights implemented, and new color schemes and fines for crosswalks proposed. Most TPN readers, however, agreed that all of these things, while helpful individually, were not the main issue, with readers stating enforcement and education of the law being the number one thing needed to improve crosswalk safety.

Meanwhile, today is the last day of the funeral of a young doctor hit and killed at the crossing over the past weekend at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat Woramahawihan. Monk Norawit, a police officer who was the driver of the vehicle that hit and killed the doctor, and his ordained father also were present at the ceremony at 2:00 PM. Norawit would be disrobed immediately after the end of the funeral for legal proceedings at the Bangkok police station.

https://thepattayanews.com/2022/01/2...nt-in-bangkok/

Punishments should be double for those who are in law enforcement, because they really do know better.

Most people would just settle for them being treated like anyone else.

Even that would take a quantum leap.

So many crossings are WTF in Thailand. I am not defending the police for trying to pass the buck but I understand what he is going on about. Some crossings are at the end of long unrestricted sections of road and indeed have no lights or warnings.

All very sad.

Pedestrian’s Killing at Bangkok Crosswalk Sparks Outrage, Derision among Thais

Outrage and dark humor have flowed freely in Bangkok this week after a policeman on an unlicensed Ducati motorcycle allegedly struck and killed a young doctor at a crosswalk, and then tried to enter the monkhood to atone for the deed after being slapped with seven charges.


The killing of ophthalmologist Waralak Supawat-Jariyakul at a pedestrian crossing here last week and the post-accident actions of the young cop suspected of plowing into her has unleashed a torrent of sarcasm via social media.


The story has come to symbolize the perils citizens of the Thai capital face when crossing its traffic-choked streets on foot – even at the black-and-white crosswalks where motor vehicles are supposed to yield to pedestrians.


Ying Nui, a university student in Bangkok, said she has become adept at the “20-meter-dash at zebra crossings” because drivers do not give way to pedestrians.


“I call it my own CrossFit. You have to imagine like you are running for your life, or as if an angry dog is chasing you,” she told BenarNews.


At around 3:10 p.m. on Jan. 21, Dr. Waralak was trying to cross Phaya Thai Road at one of those marked crosswalks.


Cars had stopped to allow the eye doctor to cross, but witnesses told local media that a “big bike” passing vehicles from the wrong side hit her at a high speed, sending her flying 10 meters (32.8 feet) away.


“The estimated speed … was 108 to 128 kph (67 to 80 mph) according to the forensic team who investigated the scene,” Thai police said on Friday. The road’s speed limit is 80 kph (50 mph).


The motorcyclist fled on foot. The doctor died moment later at a nearby hospital, three days shy of her 34th birthday.


It took authorities two days to identify the motorcyclist as Norawit Buadok, 21, a riot-police lance corporal who had bought the 900-cc red Ducati Monster in December.


Police said Norawit, who confessed, could face 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges that include reckless driving causing death. On Friday, police added another charge against the young cop – driving above the speed limit – officials told reporters.


On Jan. 24, the day after the first charges were filed, Norawit and his father, Sub-Lt. Nikhom Buadok, entered the monkhood to “make merit” and compensate for the doctor’s death. Photos of Norawit getting his head shaved lit up social media.

Police Maj. Gen. Nakarin Sukonthawvit, chief of the riot police, said he spoke to Norawit, who was “deeply sorry.”


“He said he wanted to [become ordained] to make merit for Dr. Waralak and that this decision was entirely his own, with no influence from his superiors,” Nakarin told local media.


The Sangha Supreme Council, the Buddhist governing body in Thailand that opposes suspects being ordained as monks, said it would disrobe Norawit – who did not wait for the council to act.


“I will leave the monkhood tomorrow [Jan. 26]. I feel discomfort and beg for pardon and apologize,” Norawit told reporters on Tuesday.

Backlash


Artists and satirists have turned to Twitter to comment on the incident.


“RIP Dr. Rabbit [Waralak’s nickname] and may God bless you who have to cross the road in Thailand,” said a Twitter post by WinsatonSamith (@WinsatonS). It shows the famous album-cover photo of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road. But in this rendition, John, Paul, George and Ringo fly into the air after being hit by a motorcycle.


Another Twitter post by satirist Luckleg (@Luckyleg88) showed people trying to cross the road in Thailand as if it were a deadly game in the popular Netflix series “Squid Game.”


Uninspired by Current Events (@Uninspiredby) has posted four illustrations since the accident, including one titled “Criss Crossing.” They show police officers painting a motorcycle sign over a pedestrian crossing. It has been retweeted more than 86,000 times.


Political cartoonist Stephff (@stephffart) tweeted a cartoon showing the suspect fleeing the scene dressed as a monk and leaving a police uniform behind.

Another Thai was not convinced that Norawit’s response showed remorse.


“Does anyone think like me that he was advised to enter the monkhood? Not only would he be safe when he shows up to apologize to the family, but he would be treated with respect as a monk,” Rattanaporn Too said in a Facebook post.


Last week’s fatal accident “shed light on two of the root causes of the problem – the mentality that pedestrians do not matter and the lax enforcement of laws, according to one Thai journalist.


“The overall cost of living is cheaper in Thailand than in the West, but so are lives,” Hathai Techakitteranun, deputy editor-in-chief of Thai PBS World, said on her website.


Young and reckless


For many, last week’s death reminded them of a 2010 incident when a wealthy 16-year-old girl rammed her car into a university van, killing nine people. Orachorn “Praewa” Thephasadin became an emblem of Thailand’s wealthy and powerful being able to avoid prison as she was ordered to perform 138 hours of community service.


More recently, Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya was charged with reckless driving causing death over a 2012 incident where his Ferrari allegedly struck and killed a police officer. The suspect apparently left the country.


Thailand had the highest annual rate of road traffic deaths in Asia, with 32.7 fatalities per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization’s 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety. It was the ninth highest globally, with most other countries being in Africa.


About 20,000 to 22,000 people die in road accidents every year in Thailand, according to government data. The Thai public health ministry reported 800 to 1,000 pedestrians were killed between 2016 and 2018.


By comparison, about 22,000 deaths have been blamed on COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.








Pedestrian’s Killing at Bangkok Crosswalk Sparks Outrage, Derision among Thais — BenarNews

I wonder how newsworthy this would've been if it had been a "working class" Thai citizen.

Public prosecutors on Tuesday indicted a junior policeman who hit and killed a woman on a pedestrian crossing while riding a powerful motorbike in Bangkok last month.

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) called a press conference to announce that Pol L/C Norawich Buadok, of the Protection and Crowd Control Division's sub-division 1, will stand trial on nine charges.

The decision was based on the police investigation report submitted to prosecutors on Feb 10.

Pol L/C Norawich is accused of causing the death of opthalmologist Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, of the faculty of medicine at Chulalongkorn University, on a pedestrian crossing on Phaya Thai Road in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district on Jan 21.

She died from her injuries after being struck by a Ducati Monster motorbike he was riding.

Itthiporn Kaewthip, director-general of the Office of Criminal Prosecution, said the nine charges against him are: driving a vehicle with no licence plate, using a vehicle without paying the registration fee, having no third-party insurance, driving a vehicle with no side mirrors, failing to keep to the left lane, speeding, failure to comply with traffic signs and driving a vehicle recklessly or in a way that risks harming others and their property.

Prosecutors are also seeking the forfeiture of the motorbike, which was impounded by the police as evidence during the investigation.

They would also ask the court to suspend or revoke Pol L/C Norawich's driver's licence, Mr Itthiporn said.

Prayut Phetchkun, OAG deputy spokesman, said the proposed appropriation of the bike was merited on account of it being the vehicle used in the crime.

Thawatchai Hatthapanit, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said Waraluck's family could file for damages with the OAG under Section 44/1 of the Criminal Code, even though they have already filed suit against Pol L/C Norawich for damages in the Civil Court.

If the family decided to claim for damages under the Criminal Code, they must do so either before the first witness examination hearing or before the lower court hands down its ruling in the event the defendant pleads guilty, he said.

Pol L/C Norawich was present at the OAG media briefing on Tuesday. After announcing the indictment decision, prosecutors took him to the Criminal Court for formal arraignment.

Waraluck's parents have already filed a 72-million-baht lawsuit with the Civil Court against the Royal Thai Police Office and Pol L/C Norawich for violation of rights over the fatal accident.

The family also filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court against the Bangkok Metropolitan Adminisration and two of its agencies - the Traffic and Transporation Office and the Road Safety Centre - for negligence in safety management at pedestrian crossings and demand the same compensation, 72 million baht.

Prosecutors charge junior policeman over pedestrian crossing death

I was down at CM Immigration this morning getting a photo done, and there is a pedestrian crossing there over to a car park on the other side of a dual carriageway.

It honestly might as well not be there because drivers simply do not give a fuck even if they see it and a crowd of pedestrians waiting to cross.

They have light-controlled pedestrian crossings elsewhere, why not make all the busy ones this way?

Surely someone can trouser some cash on the deal?

Cop who killed doctor on zebra crossing gets sentenced to just over one year


Thailand’s Criminal Court sentenced a non-commissioned police officer to one year and 15 days in prison and fined him 4,000 baht today (Monday) after finding him guilty of reckless driving causing the death of an eye doctor while she was using a zebra crossing in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district in January and other charges.


Apart from reckless driving causing death, the officer was also found guilty of using a vehicle which does not display a license plate, failing to drive a vehicle close to the left curb of the traffic lane, failing to stop at a zebra crossing, using a vehicle which is not insured and for which the annual road tax has not been paid and exceeding the speed limit.


In a high-profile case that has raised questions about Thailand’s road safety and lack thereof, Dr. Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, aka “Doctor Kratai”, an ophthalmologist of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, was run down by the officer on his motorcycle as she was crossing the road on a zebra crossing in front of the Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital in Phaya Thai district on January 21st.


The motorcyclist was identified as Pol Lance Corporal Norawit Buadok, a crowd control police officer attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau.


Norawit Buadok was, however, granted unconditional bail on a surety of ฿200,000 on Monday afternoon and can be released immediately.


According to police report, Norawit was driving the big bike at high speed in the left lane of the traffic and then quickly switched to the right lane, apparently after seeing other cars stopped at the zebra crossing. At the time, Doctor Kratai was on the crossing and she was struck by the motorcycle driven by Norawit.


Both Norawit and Doctor Kratai were injured. She was rushed to Rajavithi Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, while Norawit waited at the scene of the accident for police to arrive.


Norawit’s superior, Pol Maj Gen Nakarin Sukhontawit, Commander of the Protection and Crowd Control Division, confirmed to Thai PBS World today that the officer has not, to date, been suspended or dismissed from police service, but that a disciplinary panel is being set up to consider the case, following the guilty verdict and sentencing.


Three days after the accident, Norawit entered the monkhood at a temple in the Rama III area, only to quit three days later, after the public questioned his suitability as a monkhood.


The fatal accident triggered public uproar and demands for better safety for pedestrians using zebra crossings. In quick response to public sentiment, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) ordered improvements to zebra crossings across the capital, by repainting and expanding the crossings to become more visible to drivers. Stop signals were also installed at more than 100 crossings.


The public has also demanded higher penalties for drivers who ignore zebra crossings.


Phaya Thai police submitted the case to public prosecutors on February 10th and Norawit was indicted 12 days later.


Meanwhile, the victim’s family has filed a lawsuit with the Civil Court, demanding 72 million baht in compensation from the accused and the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Cop who killed doctor on zebra crossing gets sentenced to just over one year | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Originally Posted by misskit

Norawit Buadok was, however, granted unconditional bail on a surety of ฿200,000 on Monday afternoon and can be released immediately.

God dam it. They ever learn.

Amazing isn't it. Clueless fucks, they just rub it in peoples' faces.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

, they just rub it in peoples' faces.

Yeah. Exactly.

Surprised he even got a year, tbh.

.According to police report, Norawit was driving the big bike at high speed in the left lane of the traffic and then quickly switched to the right lane, apparently after seeing other cars stopped at the zebra crossing. At the time, Doctor Kratai was on the crossing and she was struck by the motorcycle driven by Norawit.

Who could possibly predict that there would be a person on a crossing if cars had stopped at it ahead of you…

Thailand is still very much a medieval society that has yet to come to terms with a modernity most other societies have embraced decades ago and which have developed a social infrastructure based on health and safety policies protecting their citizens. The Thai have yet to implement such measures in any meaningful form in their urban centres but this is scarcely surprising when one notes that a significant proportion of Thai have no understanding of what a controlled pedestrian crossing might mean or entail.

Stupidest people I have ever encountered.

Negotiating a zebra crossing in downtown BKK, even with others, requires a cautious approach in which pedestrians always assume another vehicle might continue to travel despite the obvious signs that other vehicles have stopped and people are crossing.

25,000 fatalities per annum tells its own story.