Driver in 2010 crash pleads for second chance
THE YOUNG DRIVER of a car involved in an accident in December 2010 that killed nine people has pleaded for a second chance to perform the social services required under a court order, claiming she misunderstood the requirements the first time around.
The woman, 16 at the time, was the driver of a car that collided with a passenger van on a Bangkok tollway, resulting in nine deaths. As part of her sentencing, she was ordered to perform a total of 144 hours of community service.
It was reported that the closed-door court session yesterday was scheduled to hear testimony from four probation officials. But after the first official explained the requirements of the order, the young woman admitted she had failed to carry them out in terms of process and venue. She asked permission to restart the whole procedure.
The court ordered another session on August 23 to hear the results of her new probation activities.
The original court ruling had required the woman to aid accident victims at a hospital for three years at 48 hours a year, totalling 144 hours. Since she had donated blood for six hours according to another requirement, she had 138 hours left to perform services at hospital.
Because her services at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok for 90 hours were not counted, as the facility was not a registered partner to the Probation Department, she agreed to do the 138 hours again at another non-disclosed hospital, department chief Pol Colonel Narat Sawetanant said.
Although the social-service portion of the probation order would be complete by August 23, Narat said the court order also prohibited the woman from driving until she is 25 years old, and that was still effect.
The Criminal Court on August 31, 2012, found the young woman guilty of reckless driving causing deaths and property damage and sentenced her to a three-year suspended jail term. Throughout that time, she was required to report every three months and perform social services while also being banned from driving until 25.
The Appeals Court then amended the suspended term to four years and put her on a three-year probation during which she was to perform 48 hours of social services a year.
Families of the victims have also filed a civil lawsuit against her. On November 26, the Civil Court ordered the three defendants in the case to pay Bt26.88 million to the plaintiffs.