A senior official of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) was found drunk after his pickup truck crashed into a motorcycle, severing a delivery rider’s arm and killing him, before allegedly attempting to flee in Nonthaburi on Wednesday night.
The suspect, identified as Jarong Kroamoh, was tested and found to have a blood alcohol level of 189 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, far beyond the legal limit for driving at 50mg, according to officers at the Bang Srimueang police station.
Mr Jarong serves as the director of the Office of Investigation and Special Affairs.
Police and emergency units were called to the scene at about 11pm on a bridge on the outbound lane of Ratchaphruek Road in tambon Bangrak Noi in Muang district.
At the scene, officers found a dead motorcyclist, identified as Sornarin Nakongsi, 43, an application delivery rider.
The victim’s severed left arm was found in the far left lane of the three-lane road. His body also showed severe head injuries. About 300 metres away was his damaged H SEM electric motorcycle.
Near the foot of the bridge, police found the suspect’s black Mitsubishi Triton bearing Bangkok number plates, with a heavily damaged front-left bumper and a burst tyre.
A 36-year-old witness, identified only as Mac, told police he was riding a motorbike when he saw the crash happening in front of him.
The victim was travelling in the left lane when the truck, initially in the right lane, swerved into the left lane and slammed into the back of the motorcycle, dragging it a long distance.
The witness said the pickup driver attempted to flee, but the burst tyre prevented the vehicle from getting very far. Some other witnesses also followed and confronted the driver, stopping him from escaping.
“After getting out of his vehicle, the driver appeared drunk and claimed he was a senior government official and knew senior police officers in Nonthaburi,” local media quoted the witness as saying.
He added that there was an attempt at the scene to switch the driver with another person and that he had recorded video of everything. “The actual driver was wearing a white shirt, while the person who was going to switch places with him was wearing black.”
Mr Jarong was taken to the Bang Srimueang police station, where legal proceedings were continuing on Thursday, police said.
Surapong Intharathaworn, secretary-general of the NACC, said the agency was informed of the incident and was preparing to issue an official statement.
As for the legal case, he said the investigating police officers would proceed in accordance with the law.
The NACC is preparing to set up a fact-finding committee to determine the full details. Mr Jarong has not been removed from his position but there may be a temporary reassignment, pending on investigation, Mr Surapong said.
