Bangkok: A young man drove his car into a traffic police officer, sending him flying and causing serious injuries, before reaching a drunk driving checkpoint on Bangna-Trat Road. A gun and ammunition were found in his possession. He has been taken into custody for questioning.
According to Thai News Agency, at 1:30 AM on May 22, 2026, Pol. Lt. Paiboon Mala, Deputy Investigator at Bang Na Police Station, received a report of a car accident involving a traffic police officer near an alcohol checkpoint on Thepparat Road (Bang Na-Trat), Kilometer 1, outbound lane, Bang Na District, Bangkok. He immediately went to the scene with volunteers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation.
At the scene, a four-lane road, a white Mitsubishi sedan, license plate KhT 1849 Ubon Ratchathani, was found parked on the left lane of the road with its front end severely damaged and the bumper detached. A white motorcycle, license plate 68206 (police shield emblem), was found overturned and severely damaged nearby. A seriously injured traffic police officer, identified as Pol. Lt. Tharan Phiromjitjaroen, 59, Deputy Traffic Inspector of Bang Na Police Station, was found with a severe head injury and profuse bleeding. He was taken to Thai Nakarin Hospital.
Upon inspecting the other vehicle involved in the accident, officers found a handgun and ammunition concealed inside, which were seized as evidence. They then took two young men, aged approximately 25-30, the driver and a passenger, to Bang Na Police Station for drug and alcohol testing.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somkid Bampenbun, Traffic Police Inspector of Bang Na Police Station, stated that before the incident, he and more than 10 traffic officers had set up a checkpoint to check drivers for alcohol on Thepparat Road (Bang Na-Trat) outbound. While Pol. Lt. Tharnon was on duty standing on the sidewalk about 100 meters before the checkpoint, a white car suddenly drove at high speed and crashed into a police motorcycle parked on the roadside. Pol. Lt. Tharnon was thrown and his head hit the ground, sustaining serious injuries. He was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Initially, police are thoroughly investigating the two teenage boys before proceeding with legal action.