The driver who killed 9 people in a car crash on Don Mueang tollway in 2010 when she was underage has demanded to complete her community service at a hospital of her choice because she fears for her safety.
Orachorn “Praewa” Thephasadin Na Ayudhya, now 22, visited the Probation Department yesterday and demanded to complete the rest of her community service at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Ratchathewi, which is not in her residential area, Probation Department Chief Narat Sawettanan.
“Her family chose Phramongkutklao Hospital because they are afraid Praewa would be attacked by the public,” Narat said.
Praewa crashed her car into a passenger van when she was 16 years old, causing it to plummet from the elevated tollway, resulting in nine deaths and four injuries.
She was sentenced to two years in prison, later suspended, for driving without a licence, reckless driving causing death and injury, property damage and using a mobile phone while driving.
The court ordered her to perform 48 hours of community service a year for four years as a condition of her release.
Praewa was ordered to work at a facility in Nonthaburi province, where she is a legal resident, but she refused.
“The Probation Department has proposed many facilities near her home, but Praewa refused to work there and has always claimed she was busy with her studies,” Narat said.
Her community service became a topic of public interest when she sent a lawyer to the court in February with documents signed by Phramongkutklao Hospital that showed she had completed 90 hours of community service there without authorization from the Probation Department.
She was required to consult with the department but failed to do so.
The conflict has been reported to a court, which is set to decide on June 21 if the ninety hours of unauthorized work count towards her community service.
Narat said today if Praewa wishes to continue her work at the hospital, she can get a court approval for any future work, Daily News reported.
“Phramongkutklao Hospital is not an affiliate of the Probation Department, but if the court will approve, the department can issue a letter and send her to work there under supervision of probation officers,” he said.
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