Chachoengsao Police Controversy: Officer Saksit Chimanonwit Charged for Crash Involving Sureepha

In a whirlwind of chaos that buzzed through the quiet lanes of Chachoengsao on Monday, May 5, a police pickup truck became the driver of controversy and condemnation. The usually serene streets of Ban Tang Kong–Ban Tatongkham Road in the Sanamchaikate district transformed into a scene of drama and disaster at the hands of an allegedly inebriated officer. This event swiftly became the talk of the town, rippling across Thai social media faster than gossip at a neighborhood feast.

Nestled in this infamous episode is the unfortunate tale of 48-year-old Sureepha, a woman whose day took an unexpected turn as her sidecar motorcycle became the unwitting target of a high-speed collision. It all began innocently enough. Sureepha was seen maneuvering her vehicle out of her driveway, when suddenly, in the blink of an eye, a police pickup entered stage left at a roaring speed and clipped the rear of her motorcycle. What followed was a heart-stopping moment captured on CCTV, propelling viewers into an uproar of indignation.

The driver who graced Chachoengsao with such unexpected notoriety was none other than Police Captain Saksit Chimanonwit. He holds the authoritative position of deputy inspector at the Wang Khu Police Station’s Crime Prevention and Suppression Department. Wearing a cloak of supposed duty, he nonetheless chose flight over fight—or at least over taking responsibility.

Eyebrows raised and tongues wagged when news broke that Saksit did not immediately check on Sureepha after the collision. Instead, he opted for a reckless retreat from responsibility, albeit a temporary one. It wasn’t long before the long arm of the law caught up with him, just a hop, skip, and a breath away from the crash scene. Justice was swift in the form of a breathalyzer, revealing his blood alcohol content to be above the legal threshold, leaving no question about his impaired state.

While Sureepha underwent medical assessments, landing eventually in stable condition at Sanamchaikate Hospital, public opinion hungrily devoured every scrap of information fed by media channels. Pictures of her slow but steady recovery became a beacon of hope amidst the digital din of outrage.

Saksit now faces a legal gauntlet of charges. According to Section 43(2) of the Land Transport Act, driving under the influence could see him facing up to a year behind bars or a fine that stings the wallet between 5,000 to 20,000 baht. The Criminal Code’s Section 370 has also put a spotlight on him for committed recklessness leading to another’s injury, carrying its own switchblade of fines and jail time.

In a bid to mitigate his mistakes, Saksit reportedly visited Sureepha at the hospital, proffering a sum of 20,000 baht—a token gesture, some might say, towards restitution. Discussions for further compensation are pending like an unresolved cliffhanger, promising more developments as soon as Sureepha is released from medical care.

As for Saksit’s professional trajectory, the incident has led to his temporary transfer to the Chachoengsao Provincial Police Office, pending a meticulous investigation by a special committee. The saga of accountability versus authority continues to unravel, sparking broader conversations about policing, responsibility, and public trust.

As this story makes its rounds and embeds itself into the annals of Thai news, it underscores a crucial ripple effect—how one act of negligence can sow seeds of larger societal discourse. In the drama of everyday life, Sureepha’s survival and Saksit’s downfall have become unwitting narrators of a cautionary tale for the ages.