Car slams into crowd as driver loses control
PATHUM THANI : Nine people were killed and 11 injured when a drag racer lost control and slammed into a crowd of spectators at racetrack Bangkok Drag Avenue in Khlong Luang district on Saturday night.
The accident took place about 11pm.
It was the biggest annual event held at the private racing venue located along Khlong 5 road with thousands of people, mostly teenagers, in the crowd. The race began at 7pm and was supposed to end at 2am.
The driver of the racing car, Tossapol Piamyai, was hospitalised. He and the race organiser have been charged with reckless action causing death and injury, said provincial police chief Pol Maj-Gen Wittaya Prayongpan.
Boonlert Gongpa, 30, who narrowly escaped injury in the accident, said he was watching from ringside and waiting for his team's turn to race.
He said it was a 400m race between two cars. In the right lane was a modified sedan steered by a driver from the Moh Seng team.
Shortly after the race started, the Moh Seng driver lost control of his car and veered from his lane into the left.
He slammed into a concrete pole, the car flipped over and slammed into the crowd. Six other racing cars were damaged.
Mr Boonlert said four of his friends died on the spot.
Provincial governor Preecha Butsri ordered the racetrack closed until police wrap up their investigation.
Provincial commercial and public works offices would inspect the track's registration papers and the way it was built.
Police said this was the first accident on the racing track, which has been in business for five years.
The racetrack is where former social development and human security minister Wattana Muangsook held a racing event for teenagers to tackle street-racing in 2005.
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