Man held over fatal 2012 car crash

>> A Chon Buri man was arrested in Bangkok yesterday for allegedly colluding with an accomplice to kill two people in a car crash in his hometown in 2012.

Crime Suppression Division commander Suthin Sappuang said Sayomphu Suphasorn, 23, was caught by city police yesterday at a house on Soi Thian Talay in Bang Khunthian district.

Pol Maj Gen Suthin said city police were tipped off that Mr Sayomphu had been hiding in the house.

He was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by a court in Chon Buri dated Oct 26, 2012, for colluding to murder two teenagers in a car crash.

Police said Mr Sayomphu and Sonthipong Srisombat intentionally crashed a pickup truck into six young people on three motorcycles on Sansuk Road in Chon Buri, causing two of them to die.

Mr Sayomphu and Mr Sonthipong had been attacked by the group of teenagers. The suspects responded by driving their vehicle at a high speed behind the youngsters on motorcycles, causing one of the motorcycles they were chasing to overturn.

The motorcyclist and a pillion passenger were then hit by a car behind them, according to police.

Mr Sayomphu and Mr Sonthipong’s victims who were injured in the collision were taken to a local hospital where they were later pronounced dead by a doctor.

An investigator said Mr Sayomphu denied he drove the pickup truck to hit people on a motorcycle but admitted he was in the vehicle when the crash took place.

He told investigators that Mr Sonthipong was behind the wheel.

Mr Sayomphu said Mr Sonthipong had got into an argument with a group of teenagers on motorcycles who chased after them.

Mr Sonthipong drove the truck at a high speed to escape his rivals, causing their motorcycles to skid off the road, he said.

Pol Maj Gen Suthin said investigators charged Mr Sayomphu with wilful murder.

Mr Sayomphu is being detained at Sansuk police station in Chon Buri pending investigation, according to police. Mr Sonthipong is still at large.