BANGKOK – Police in central Thailand’s Pathum Thani province have arrested a 29-year-old truck driver accused of forcing his way through a checkpoint and crashing into a police motorcycle, killing an officer on duty.
The suspect now faces serious charges, including the murder of an officer while performing official duties. Tensions briefly rose during the arrest because he resisted and repeatedly shouted that he was not at fault.
The case follows a deadly crash involving a white 6-wheel Isuzu truck and a police motorcycle. Investigators said the truck drove through the checkpoint and sideswiped the motorcycle, sending it into a power pole.
Police Officer Died Immediately
As a result, Pol. Lance Cpl. Chaiwat Kong-udom, a patrol squad officer at Thanyaburi Police Station, died at the scene. After the crash, the truck driver fled. He later abandoned the vehicle and reportedly sent a farewell message to his mother.
The incident happened on the frontage road along Kanchanaphisek Road, Highway 9, near the Thanyaburi checkpoint at Kilometer 26 in Pathum Thani, during the evening of March 20.
On the morning of March 21, at about 9:00 a.m., investigators moved both vehicles involved in the crash to Lam Luk Ka Police Station for evidence storage. The two vehicles were the police motorcycle, unit number 31612, and the white 6-wheel Isuzu truck registered in Pathum Thani.
After a detailed inspection, officers found a deep scrape along the right side of the truck. The mark matched the position of the police motorcycle handlebar, which was hit during the collision. In addition, oil stains were clearly visible near the truck’s right rear wheel.
Meanwhile, at the crash site, friends and relatives of the dead officer brought offerings to invite his spirit home, following local belief. Pol. Lance Cpl. Thongchai Boonkaen, an officer from Thanyaburi Police Station who assists with investigative work, said he had been very close to the victim.
He explained that the deceased officer had looked after him and taught him the job since his early training days at the station. He described Chaiwat as kind, respected, and always ready to guide junior officers. They had spoken just two days earlier, so the sudden loss hit him hard.
Truck Driver Claims Innocence
Later that day, around noon, Pol. Lt. Col. Thawatchai Rattanapahu, deputy chief of investigation at Thanyaburi Police Station, led a team to arrest the suspect, Suphot, also known as Lek Chaiyo, age 29.
He was taken into custody at a workers’ residence in Village 15, Bueng Kham Phroi Subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani. Police said the arrest followed a warrant issued by the Thanyaburi Provincial Court on charges related to killing and attempting to kill officers on duty.
While officers were reading the arrest warrant, the suspect tried to run. Police quickly moved in, restrained him, and placed him in handcuffs. Even after that, he kept insisting he was innocent. He claimed the checkpoint was not set up properly and argued that he had done nothing wrong. Officers eventually had to carry him into a pickup truck to take him in for questioning at Lam Luk Ka Police Station.
During questioning, Suphot admitted he was the one driving the truck at the time of the incident. However, he claimed he became frightened when he saw the checkpoint because there were no clear warning signs.
Because of that, he said he decided to drive away and head back to the factory. He also said he stepped on the brakes and the rear of the truck swung out on its own. He insisted he did not know when the police officer began following him and claimed the officer tried to stay out of his sight.
Still, Pathum Thani Provincial Police Commander Maj. Gen. Peerapol Chotikasethian said investigators had ordered four serious charges against the suspect. Those charges include murdering an officer on duty, attempted murder of an officer on duty, resisting and obstructing officers by using force, and causing property damage.
As for the body of Pol. Lance Cpl. Chaiwat Kong-udom, police said that after the autopsy is complete, his remains will be taken to Wat Khian Khet in Pathum Thani for one night of funeral rites. After that, his body will be transported to his hometown in Kuchinarai District, Kalasin Province, for religious ceremonies.
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