A drunk executive of a well-known cosmetic clinic was arrested in Bangkok after his Mercedes-Benz struck a parcel delivery rider, knocking her off a flyover onto Rama IV Road below, where she died.
The fatal crash occurred on the Thai-Japanese bridge above the Henri Dunant intersection on Rama IV Road, said Pol Maj Montri Khamkhao, investigation chief at the Pathumwan police station, who was alerted at 2.35am on Thursday.
Police, forensic technicians, doctors and rescue workers arriving at the scene found the Mercedes E200D with Bangkok licence plates on the bridge with damage to its left front. The driver was found inside the sedan. He was later identified as Punnamee Satjamongkol, 44, an executive of the Pornkasem clinic.
The Yamaha Filano motorcycle with a Chon Buri licence plate was found on the bridge with its right rear badly damaged.
The bike rider was found dead on Rama IV Road below with neck injuries and fractured legs and arms. She was later identified as Chawee Arsaisong, 44. Her body was sent to Police General Hospital.
During questioning, Mr Punnamee told police that he had just left a party and was on the way home. He was travelling on the bridge heading to Hua Lamphong when his car hit the bike.
Police took Mr Punnamee to the Pathumwan station for an alcohol breath test. He was found to have 119 milligrammes per decilitre (mg/dL) of alcohol in his system, which far exceeds the legal limit of 50.
Police initially charged him with drunk driving and reckless driving causing death. He was held in custody for legal action.
A police officer administers an alcohol breath test to Punnamee Satjamongkol at the Pathumwan station following the fatal accident on Rama IV Road in Bangkok early Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)