Justice not swift in case of teen driver tollway crash

Family members whose loved ones were killed by a reckless 16-year-old driver in December 2010 are unhappy about the suspended two-year prison sentence handed out by the Central Juvenile and Family Court.

The complainants had earlier filed lawsuits seeking tens of millions of baht in damages against Orachorn “Praewa” Thephasadin Na Ayudhya, the driver who collided with a passenger van on the Don Muang tollway causing nine deaths. Orachorn, who sustained only minor injuries, was driving a Honda Civic.

Orachorn, being a minor, was charged with unlicensed and reckless driving, resulting in death. She was initially meted out a three-year jail term, but this was commuted to two years because of good behavior. The sentence was then suspended and Orachorn was placed on probation. The court also banned her from driving until she reaches the age of 25.

Pol Col Saran Nilawan, whose daughter, Thammasat University first-year student Chutiporn Nilawan perished in the accident, said Orachorn had never expressed remorse nor apologized for what she has done.

“I hope the court’s ruling will favour the prosecution and I don’t think a 120 million baht compensation order would be too much when compared to the incalculable losses,” the father said, according to the Bangkok Post. 

The bereaved father did not make a comment after the ruling was passed.



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