BURI RAM: The driver of a pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run accident in which a motorcyclist was crushed to death on Friday has surrendered to police.
The crash, on the evening of Nov 2 at Ban Thai intersection in Muang district, was captured on surveillance cameras.
A video showed a pickup truck making an abrupt right turn, causing an oncoming motorcycle to crash head-on into the vehicle. The impact knocked the rider off the motorcycle. While he was lying on the road, the pickup truck reversed, driving over and killing the victim, and the drove away.
The victim was identified as Thitipan Poonsap, 25, a resident of Buri Ram's Muang district. Rescue workers rushed to the scene but he succumbed to his injuries.
Social media was fuming over the crash with people expressing their anger and disbelief at the pickup driver's actions.
Pol Col Torsak Sriserm, chief of Muang Buri Ram police, said on Monday the driver of the pickup truck surrendered later and said he drove away because he was in shock and not thinking clearly.
He denied he intended to back his vehicle over the motorcyclist or had any intention to flee. He also said he was not driving under the influence of alcohol.
The station chief did not name the driver. He was charged with reckless driving causing death and failing to stop to help after an accident, and not immediately informing local officials of the accident.
