Late doctor's mum demands justice

The mother of the doctor killed on a zebra crossing by a speeding police officer has called on a parliamentary law committee to ensure her daughter receives justice and lessons are learned from the tragedy.

Ratchanee Supawatjariyakul, the mother of Waraluck, the ophthalmologist killed in the accident, along with her lawyer, Natthapon Chinawong, made the appeal to the House law committee on Thursday. She wants the panel to monitor the case as an independent observer.

She said she did not want the officer, who was riding a Ducati, held solely to blame because her daughter had died without having the degree of protection the law was supposed to provide.

"I don't want my daughter to die in vain like in other cases where the victims dies without receiving justice," she said. "I want her death to be a lesson that will result in changes to traffic laws and attitudes that will improve safety."

Her lawyer, Mr Natthapon, said he wanted the committee to pursue the case as the offender was a police officer.

He said the family's main concern was regarding the enforcement of traffic laws as this sort of incident should not have occurred on a zebra crossing. The family fears lax enforcement may result in similar tragedies.

Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol Lt Gen Sophon Pisutthiwong, and Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner, Pol Maj Gen Jirasan Kaewsang-ek, spoke about road safety improvements at the Kidney Institute Hospital crossing on Phyathai Road, where Pol L/C Norawich Buadok's superbike struck and killed the doctor.

"The crossing has been painted red so that drivers can see it more clearly, but we will turn it into a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights which will take around two weeks to install, as well as cameras to catch offenders," Pol Lt Gen Sophon said. "The BMA plans an additional 100 such pedestrian crossings to replace unsafe zebra crossings, which are expected to be completed by March."

Pol Maj Gen Jirasan said increasing the fine for not stopping at crossings to up to 4,000 baht was being considered. He also said 10,000 baht rewards could be offered to people sending clips of cars that fail to stop at crossings.