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Drunk driver reckless: 13-year-old boy dies tragically!
A drunk driver causes a fatal accident in Sattahip, killing a 13-year-old. Stricter penalties called for.
Drunk driver reckless: 13-year-old boy dies tragically!
In the early morning of October 9, 2025, a tragic road accident occurred in Sattahip, resulting in the death of a 13-year-old student. The student, who was in Grade 8 at Phlu Ta Luang Wittaya School, was hit by a drunk driver on the wrong side of the road. The accident, which occurred around 1 a.m. on Sukhumvit Road, vividly illustrates the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The 59-year-old who caused the accident, Wanlop Phrommasuwan, was very drunk when he was driving his Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck in the opposite direction of travel. At the scene of the accident, police found the heavily damaged pickup truck and the wreckage of a red and black Honda Wave 125 motorcycle; the debris had spread about 20 meters from the point of impact. The boy was found dead near the pickup truck. His sudden death has sparked deep sadness in the community and at his school and led to public outrage over road conditions.
Penalties for drunk driving
In Thailand, driving under the influence of alcohol is a leading cause of traffic accidents. The current legal situation provides for strict penalties in order to reduce such accidents. According to information from Huahin Today, even a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 50 mg% will result in up to one year in prison, fines between 5,000 and 20,000 baht, and driving license revocation expected for at least 6 months. Driving with a blood alcohol content of over 100 mg/dL, as in the case of the person who caused the accident, can result in even more serious consequences.
The new laws passed for 2025 treat drunk driving particularly strictly. In the event of a fatal accident caused by drunk driving, penalties ranging from 3 to 10 years in prison and fines ranging from 60,000 to 200,000 baht can be imposed. These stricter regulations are intended to reduce the high traffic fatality rates, as Thailand is one of the countries with the highest traffic accidents per capita, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has found.
Social reactions and future measures
The shocking events have raised public awareness and increased calls for measures to both enforce existing traffic rules and raise awareness of the dangers of drinking alcohol on the roads. The police have emphasized how important it is to take joint action against driving under the influence of alcohol in order to get a handle on road deaths.
Additionally, the Thai government plans to increase penalties for drunk driving to improve road safety. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced this as part of a broader plan to reduce the number of road accidents during holidays such as New Year, which traditionally see a spike in road accidents.Thailand Tip reported. Road safety deficiencies need to be urgently addressed, with the Minister emphasizing the need for safe and comfortable travel.
The recent accident and the associated discussions are an urgent appeal to all road users to act responsibly and not to take road safety for granted. Future measures to improve road safety are the need of the hour to prevent such tragic incidents.