Police identified the suspect as Waruj Srithongchan. He has denied responsibility for Monday̕s crash, claiming he was a passenger of a pickup truck which hit a motorcade of Adm Thanarat Ubon, deputy chief-of-staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
The police investigation, however, indicated Mr Waruj was behind the wheel during the crash. He was remanded in custody at Khiri Ratthanikhom police station in Surat Thani.
On Monday evening, the pickup truck which Mr Waruj was allegedly driving overshot a curve on the Surat Thani-Takhua Pa road in Khiri Ratthanikhom district, and collided with the motorcade.
Five soldiers attached to the Royal Thai Armed Forces were killed instantly. They were Capt Sathip Jinawa, Capt Sakol Chaiwanont, CPO Ronnapop Chanprasert, PO Sophon Sripanlom and PO Paradorn Noonpakdi.
The bodies of the soldiers were flown from Surat Thani to Bangkok's Don Muang district yesterday, and the bodies then taken for a royal bathing rite at Wat Khrua Wan in Chon Buri province. Adm Thanarat accompanied the flight to attend the ceremony.
Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had expressed his condolences over the accident and pledged to assist the victims' families with financial aid and welfare.
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