Traffic policeman fatally hit by taxi with drunk driver on Bangkok road
A traffic policeman directing a mini-marathon race in Bangkok was fatally hit by a speeding taxi early on Sunday in the second recent loss of life for traffic police on duty, police said.
The fatal accident occurred at 6am in front of a bus depot in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district.
Pol Sub-Lt Assada Jamniansri, 54, deputy traffic inspector of Bang Khen police station, was hit and hurled into the air by a taxi driven by Warabutr (surname withheld), 40.
He was taken to Bhumibol Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Assada was directing traffic to facilitate a mini-marathon held by Rajabhat Phra Nakhon University.
Police tested the taxi driver and found that he had 287 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millitres of blood, compared with the legal limit of 50mg.
The taxi driver claimed he was not drunk and alleged that the police officer stepped out to block his way suddenly so he could not stop his taxi in time.
He said he was returning home from drinking with friends.
Police charged him with drunk driving causing death.
In another case, a traffic policeman in Lopburi who was hit while directing traffic on April 16 died of his injuries on Sunday morning.
The Police General Hospital said Pol Sen Sgt Maj Piyanan Sisua, 39, died at the at hospital at 8.53am.
Piyanan was hit by a speeding car driven by Pornphet Punsomjai, 27, while he was directing traffic flow on Saraburi-Lomsak Road in Lopburi’s Pattananikom district at 6pm on April 16.
He was initially meant to be flown by helicopter to the Police Hospital but the airlift had to be aborted because of his condition. He was admitted to Lopburi Hospital at 11pm that day and was transferred to the Police Hospital on April 18.
