A 75-year-old retired government employee, identified only as “Somsak,” was granted bail yesterday after driving his car into a group of students and parents in Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, earlier this week. The incident resulted in the tragic deaths of a police officer and a kindergarten student.
Relatives of Somsak posted 150,000 baht in cash as a surety for his release. The provincial court approved the bail after police raised no objections. Somsak faces charges of drunk driving, causing death, and injury.
The accident occurred outside Ban Don Khwang School in Hua Thalay sub-district, prompting the school to close temporarily. Classes resumed yesterday, with the exception of kindergarten.
In response to the tragedy, teachers and school administrators have proposed the construction of a pedestrian bridge to enhance road safety for students. The school is located on a curve and slope, where motorists often accelerate, a factor attributed to several previous accidents in the area.
Following the incident, local road safety officials convened to discuss long-term measures to prevent future accidents. Proposed actions include building a pedestrian bridge, installing additional traffic signals, and improving road safety infrastructure in the area.
