A motorcycle delivery driver was fatally injured on Tuesday afternoon when a car driver struck his motorbike during a road rage incident on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. Subsequently, the driver was apprehended and is currently being prosecuted for murder.
When police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, they discovered the victim, Ritthisak Prakuptanont, 49, lying in a pool of blood.
His motorcycle sustained substantial damage. According to Pol Lt Jarin Rattanasuwanchai, deputy investigation chief at the Lumpini police station, a Toyota Altis with a damaged front and a broken right side mirror was discovered in the vicinity at approximately 2 p.m.
The 31-year-old driver, Seree Srettheenamwong, was apprehended at the scene and transported to the Lumpini station. He is the son of a garment shop owner on Sukhumvit Soi 7/1.
According to a police investigation and eyewitness accounts, Seree’s vehicle collided with Ritthisak’s motorcycle as he was en route to the Ploenchit intersection through the Asoke-Sukhumvit intersection. The driver did not halt to address the damage to the delivery rider’s bike and continued driving. This incited the rider to pursue the vehicle until it arrived at the Siam 2 health massage shop.
Ritthisak successfully manoeuvred his bicycle in front of Seree’s vehicle, compelling it to halt. He insisted that the driver exit the vehicle to address the damage. After Seree refused to drive away, Ritthisak struck the driver’s side window with his hand two or three times.
Seree immediately exited his vehicle and struck Ritthisak, causing him to collapse to the ground. After that, he stomped on the rider’s body.
The rider was able to rise, mount his bicycle, and flee. However, Seree, incensed, pursued him and collided with the bike and his vehicle.
Ritthisak’s body collided with a metal pole that hosted a closed-circuit television camera, resulting in his fall from his bicycle. According to the police, he passed away immediately.
Upon learning of the incident, the victim’s wife, Saijai Tamboon, 40, arrived with her daughter. They burst into tears as they searched for the body of their loved one. According to Ms Saijai, Ritthisak was the primary earner in the family, as the couple had four children between the ages of eight and eighteen.
She expressed her desire for the police to implement severe measures against the driver.
Initially, the police charged Seree with murder and reckless driving resulting in death. The police confined him to pursue legal action.
Road Rage in Thailand
Road rage incidents in Thailand have increasingly become a grave issue, commanding public attention and highlighting deeper societal tensions. Thailand has long struggled with road safety issues, but road rage incidents signal a worrying trend.
While road rage incidents occur globally, cultural and structural factors may exacerbate the issue in Thailand. Overcrowded roads, frequent gridlock, and lax traffic law enforcement contribute to rising tempers. Economic stress and inadequate conflict resolution skills, which may push certain individuals toward aggressive behaviour, compound these problems.
According to experts in Bangkok, deeply ingrained societal hierarchies also play a role. In a country where “saving face” and avoiding public embarrassment are key cultural values, perceived minor insults can escalate into violent disputes.
Questions remain about the adequacy of law enforcement in addressing road rage. While Thai authorities have taken steps to investigate and prosecute cases like the Sukhumvit tragedy, critics argue that preventive measures are lacking. Surveillance cameras, increased police patrols, and harsher penalties for reckless driving are often cited as necessary interventions to deter such behaviour.
