Son seeks justice for mother killed in accident involving police-escorted convoy

Bangkok, Thailand – On July 19, a man turned to the media demanding justice for his mother, who suffered fatal injuries in a car accident involving a convoy of luxury cars carrying Chinese tourists.

The accident occurred on the evening of July 11. The convoy was reportedly escorted by police and protected by bodyguards. Prakong Jangjai, 31, fears the case could be mishandled due to the influential status of the people involved.

Recounting the horrific incident, Prakong explained that after the accident, his sister informed him of her mother’s hospitalization at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital. When Prakong arrived at the hospital at around 2am, he found his mother in a coma, suffering from multiple broken ribs and severe head trauma. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries two days later.

The incident has left the family in a state of shock and grief. Prakong was initially baffled by the police’s claim that his mother was responsible for the accident despite being presented with no evidence. He urged the investigating officer to thoroughly re-investigate the case. In his search for answers, Prakong contacted the driver of the Chinese tourists’ minibus, who denied any responsibility and referred him to their lawyer and insurance company.

Eyewitness accounts from a gas station employee and local dealers at the scene of the accident described seeing the convoy of luxury vehicles, consisting of five to seven vehicles, escorted by police. Witnesses also reported that bodyguards were at the scene of the accident before the convoy left, raising fears of a possible cover-up.

Although surveillance camera footage showed police escorting the convoy, the gas station’s cameras were unable to capture the accident itself due to an internet problem. However, other cameras recorded the actions of police and bodyguards after the incident and showed the convoy regrouping some distance from the accident site.

After Ms Chomthakon Jangjai’s death, Prakong worked with the Nongprue Police Investigation Officer in Pattaya to recover his mother’s body and arrange a funeral in her hometown in Phetchabun province. The family held a vigil for two nights before the cremation and deeply mourned their loss.

Prakong called on those responsible to acknowledge their actions and show compassion, stressing that they should consider how they would feel if the victim was their own relative. He stressed the need for transparency and the presentation of all available evidence to ensure justice for his mother. “This is a tragic and unjust situation,” Prakong said. “All I ask is that the truth comes out and those responsible are held accountable. My mother deserves justice and our family deserves closure.”