KAMPHAENG PHET : A routine drink driving and car accident case turned into a bloodbath after a man allegedly shot at three police officers while being detained in a police car. One died from gunshot wounds, a second died from crash injuries and the third suffered serious bullet wounds.
Muang Kamphaeng Phet police were informed a police vehicle had crashed into an electricity pole on Charoen Suk Road on Tuesday night.
When they arrived at the scene they found blood splattered all around the inside of the vehicle.
Four people were found inside, including three seriously injured police officers. Two of them later died from their wounds.
Pol Lt Col Srisak Srinuan, who sustained gun wounds to the head and chest, and Pol Sr Sgt Maj Apisak Phaofu, who was critically injured with crash wounds, were pronounced dead at Kamphaeng Phet Hospital.
The driver, Chamnan Aongyim, who was shot in the shoulder and in the spine, was sent for further treatment at Police General Hospital in Bangkok.
An 11mm bullet shell was found on the ground next to the driver's side of the vehicle.
Police found another man, identified as Kampolsak Phrikthung, 54, on the back seat of the vehicle. He had a wound to his head and his left leg was broken.
Police said the three officers took Mr Kampolsak in their car to have his blood-alcohol level tested after he was involved in an accident with a pickup truck in tambon Sa Kaew, Muang district. Investigators alleged Mr Kampolsak drew an 11mm gun and fired at the officers for no apparent reason.
Police claim Mr Kampolsak first shot Pol Lt Col Srisak, then the driver Pol Sgt Maj Chamnan.
They said Pol Sr Sgt Maj Apisak, who was sitting beside the man, tried to stop the shooting and snatch the gun from him.
The driver lost control and crashed into an electricity pole, they said.
Pol Col Pongsathorn Sukosit, the doctor treating Pol Sgt Maj Chamnan, said the policeman was shot in the shoulder and spine. He said there was a risk of paralysis in his legs because of the spinal injuries.
During interrogation, Mr Kampolsak, who police claimed appeared to still be drunk, denied he killed the officers. He said the gun "simply went off".
Mr Kampolsak said he had only drunk a "little bit of alcohol". He was carrying a firearm as he had 40,000 baht in cash to give to his brother to pay back a debt.
National police adviser Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, who visited Pol Sgt Maj Chamnan yesterday, said the tragedy should not have happened.
"The police officers are partly to blame for not inspecting the suspect to see if he was armed, but I believe they did not expect such a violent incident to happen because they were investigating [what they thought was just] a car accident," Pol Gen Suwat said.
The Royal Thai Police Office will give initial aid of 85,000 baht to the injured and will promote the officers who died. http://www.bangko...ns-violent
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