Driver charged after Hong Kong police sergeant fell from open van and died in Thailand

According to surveillance footage obtained by local media, the Hong Kong man was seen falling from the back of a taxi onto the street in the South Pattaya district at 8:36 a.m. on Monday.

Later that day, Pattaya Tourist Police said the driver had surrendered, but added that he was unaware of the sergeant’s fall until he heard the news and was informed by the vehicle’s owner.

“The driver of the vehicle involved in the incident has been taken in for questioning,” a police spokesman said in a social media post.

“The deceased’s wife wants to transport the body to Hong Kong to perform a religious ceremony there. The Pattaya Tourist Police will contact the Chinese Embassy to coordinate the collection of the body.”

He added that police would meet with songthaew operators to prevent such accidents in the future.

The man, surnamed Lam, said to be 48 years old and from Hong Kong, suffered serious injuries, according to local media, and was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A source told the Post that the man was a police sergeant.

According to reports, witnesses shouted at the songthaew to stop after the incident, but the vehicle continued driving.

The police later obtained details of the vehicle’s license plate number from surveillance camera footage and immediately launched a manhunt.

The source said the sergeant was on vacation with his family and planned to return to the city on Tuesday. He left the hotel alone before boarding the transport.

Pattaya tourist police said the suspect had been charged with negligent homicide.

Hong Kong’s immigration authorities said on Monday evening that they had been informed of the incident by the man’s family.

Contact has been made with Beijing’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand to find out more about the situation.

The department added that it had provided appropriate advice and support based on the wishes of the family members.

The Post has contacted the Chinese Embassy in Thailand and the Thai Consulate in Hong Kong for further information.