Sgt Suthat, who was the Traffic Police chief at Tha Chatchai Police Station at the northern tip of Phuket, was slain by an out-of-control minivan with a drunk driver behind the wheel yesterday (Nov 9). (See story here.)
Sgt Suthat, 40, was waiting to make a u-turn at the Pa Noen Pad Thai intersection in Baan Sakoo when he was mowed down by the minivan. He was on his way to conduct security duty for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who visited the island to dedicate two new buildings at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. (See story here.)
The fatal incident was captured on CCTV in the area.
The minivan driver, Pichitphol Pak-kaew, from Phuket, was arrested at the scene after he was breathalysed and found to have a blood-alcohol reading of .079. He has since appeared in court. (See story here.)
After being briefed on the accident yesterday morning, Col Teeraphol immediately proposed to his superior officers to consider honouring Sgt Suthat as an officer who killed on the line of duty and promoting him to a higher rank, Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Superintendent Col Weerawat Jantarawijit revealed this morning.
This afternoon, Col Teeraphol himself explained, “Any officer who dies in an accident while on duty shall be posthumously promoted three ranks up and their children are qualify to serve as police.”
Col Teeraphol also called on the public to help police bring “road manics” to justice.
“All public transportation drivers must respect road rules and have exceptional driving experience. They must be responsible for their own life, the lives of their passengers, other drivers and pedestrians.
“Police have only ‘small voice’ to stop these road maniacs, but local people can help by reporting such driving behaviour. They can take pictures and send them to the police. If everyone helps, we will be able to get rid of thugs from Phuket’s roads.”
Sgt Suthat is survived by his wife Buthsarakorn Shae-uing, 34, who works in the Education Division at Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), and his two daughters: Tadtiya Songmueng, age 5, and Tadniyakorn, age 2.
The family has been awarded B100,000 financial support from Region 8 Police. The Phuket News has been also informed that the Royal Palace provided blessed soil to use as the first sod to cast upon Sgt Suthat's coffin.
The body of Sgt Suthat was taken to his hometown in Trang, where he was buried in Muslim tradition this morning.
*Correction: The initial report marked that The Phuket News had been informed that the Royal Palace had donated a small plot of land for the now-fatherless family. That information was incorrect. The error is regretted.