A stolen car, a fake name and blurry cellphone photos are all police have to go on in its investigation of this weekend’s killing of a bicyclist by a Bangkok motorist.
Thanyakorn Densirimongkol, 31, died early Tuesday and two fellow cyclists were injured after a Honda Jazz hit them on Ratchada-Ram Intra Road, in front of the Bangkok Boulevard housing estate Monday night.
But follow-up investigation found that the Honda had been stolen and the driver escaped, even though he was taken to the hospital, leaving police only a dark phone image to identify him.
The black Jazz is registered under Pipat Boonsanong, a doctor at a private hospital in Min Buri district. However, a woman identifying herself as Dr Pipat's sister told police Tuesday that her brother was still on duty at the hospital and that the vehicle has been reported stolen on March 17.
Pol Col Kittichet Sakayaphabvichanont, superintendent of Khok Khram police station, said the doctor let his former girlfriend use his car. But when they broke up, she never returned it. So the doctor reported to the police that it was stolen.
Police said witnesses reported that an unidentified woman was riding in the front passenger seat when the Jazz hit the cyclists. It's unknown whether she was Dr Pipat's ex-girlfriend, but she is being sought for questioning.
The driver, meanwhile, was taken by Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescuers to Vejthani hospital following the crash. There he gave his name as Saran Inthanon, 23.
But Pol Col Kittichet said that because he sustained no injuries, he simply walked out of the hospital without meeting police. Police later found the name he provided was bogus.
One witness to the fatal accident, snapped a photo of a man wearing striped-shirt running out of the car. The photo was posted to the Sanook News Facebook page Wednesday morning by Prapan Srirasai. Police did not confirm if the man photographed was the suspected hit-and-run driver.
Police are now using witnesses sketches and photos to obtain an arrest warrant. If caught, he will be charged with hit-and-run and also reckless driving resulting in injury and death.