A South Korean man was injured after his brand-new Mercedes-Benz struck the stairs of Thong Lor BTS station on Sunday, and police say they are waiting for the results of an alcohol test before laying charges.
Pol Lt Rakom Kamgon, a deputy inspector at Thong Lor police station, said the incident occurred at the Thong Lor skytrain station on the outbound side at about 6.30am.
Street vendor Puang Puangpila, 49, told the officer she came to sell food there and saw a Bangkok-registered Mercedes-Benz with a red licence plate parked on the sidewalk near the BTS station with its engine and lights on, and left door open. A man identified later as Kum Ki Lee, reportedly in his 30s, was asleep in the driver’s seat.
Shortly after, the car moved forward and forcefully rammed into the stairs and went up the pole structure, causing a loud bang. Bystanders dragged the driver out of the car. The man was still asleep at that time, Mrs Puang said. The impact caused heavy damage to the car’s bonnet.
Pol Lt Rakom said Lee was later taken to Bumrungrad hospital. He sustained a neck injury and was unable to talk to police. The Mercedes was parked about 15 metres from the BTS entrance stairs before the crash. The cause of the accident would be made clear after further examination and questioning of the driver.
Pol Lt Rakom said the crash site did not have CCTV and he was checking footage from nearby cameras. He had asked hospital staff to conduct an alcohol test on the man and was waiting for the results.
The South Korean initially faces a charge of reckless driving causing property damage.
Post Today photo
Post Today photo