BANGKOK, Thailand – A traffic police officer was critically injured after being struck by a speeding car near an alcohol checkpoint on Bangna-Trat Road early Friday morning, May 22, with officers later discovering a handgun and ammunition hidden inside the vehicle. The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Theparat Road (Bangna-Trat Road) outbound near kilometer marker 1 in Bangkok’s Bangna district. Police found a heavily damaged white Mitsubishi sedan with Ubon Ratchathani license plates parked along the roadside, alongside a wrecked police motorcycle. Critically injured at the scene was Police Captain Tharon Phiromjitjaroen, 59, a traffic police inspector attached to Bangna Police Station.
The officer suffered severe head injuries after being thrown to the ground during the impact and was rushed to Thainakarin Hospital for emergency treatment. Investigators said the officer had been stationed about 100 meters ahead of a police alcohol checkpoint when the speeding car suddenly veered into the roadside area, crashing into the parked police motorcycle and slamming into the officer. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a handgun and ammunition concealed inside the car. The weapon was seized as evidence.
Two young men aged around 25 to 30, believed to be the driver and passenger, were detained and taken to Bangna Police Station for alcohol and drug testing as investigators continued questioning.
Police said more than 10 traffic officers had been deployed at the checkpoint conducting DUI inspections at the time of the incident. Authorities are continuing the investigation and preparing legal action against those involved.
