An overzealous
civil-defense volunteer is being blamed for this motorbike accident on
Sukhumvit Road.
Boonlua Chatree
An overzealous civil-defense volunteer is being blamed for a
motorbike accident that injured an 18-year-old on Sukhumvit Road.
Pongthep Bunserm, a worker at a wood factory in Rayong, was hurt when he
collided with a BMW sedan Nov. 12 in South Pattaya. Moments later, the
volunteer, who legally has no arrest powers, slapped cuffs on the teen
and hauled him away to police without seeking immediate treatment for
his wounds.
Pongthep explained he and a friend were driving to a friend’s birthday
party when the volunteer cut them off with his pickup truck and told
them to pull over because their motorbike was too loud.
The teens fled, fearing arrest, and were pursued vigorously for 10
kilometers through back streets until the teens pulled out onto
Sukhumvit and ran into the BMW, with Pongthep sliding under the front
wheels.
The teen explained the situation to the driver of the sedan, who decided
not to press charges or seek compensation. But the BMW driver expressed
exasperation at the civil-defense volunteer, who came up and apprehended
the teen and forcibly took him away.
