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Danny Mok

Ezra Cheung

The driver of a songthaew open-air truck has been charged with causing death by reckless driving in a Thai resort town after a Hong Kong police sergeant fell off the vehicle and died.
According to surveillance footage obtained by local media, the Hongkonger was seen tumbling from the back of the taxi van onto the road in South Pattaya district at 8.36am on Monday.
Tourist police in Pattaya later in the day said the driver had surrendered, but added he claimed he was unaware the sergeant had fallen until he saw the news and was informed by the owner of the vehicle.
“The driver of the vehicle involved in the incident has been taken in for questioning,” a police spokesman said in a social media post.
“The wife of the deceased wishes to take the body to Hong Kong to carry out a religious ceremony. Pattaya tourist police will contact the Chinese embassy to coordinate the pickup of the body.”
He added that the force would meet with songthaew operators to prevent such accidents in the future.
The man, surnamed Lam, said to be aged 48 and from Hong Kong, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was certified dead, according to local media.
A source told the Post that the man was a police sergeant.
It was reported that witnesses had shouted at the songthaew to stop after the incident, but the vehicle continued driving.
Police later obtained the plate number details of the vehicle through security camera footage and immediately launched a manhunt.
The source said the sergeant was on holiday with his family and scheduled to return to the city on Tuesday. He had left the hotel alone before taking the transport.

Pattaya tourist police said the suspect was charged with causing death by reckless driving.
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department on Monday evening said it was notified about the incident by the man’s family.
It had contacted Beijing’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong and the Chinese embassy in Thailand to understand the situation.
The department added it had provided appropriate advice and assistance based on the wishes of the family members.
The Post has reached out to the Chinese embassy in Thailand and the Thai consulate in Hong Kong for more information.


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Driver charged with causing death by reckless driving claimed he was unaware of the incident until he saw the news, police say


Driver charged with causing death by reckless driving claimed he was unaware of the incident until he saw the news, police say.


Hong Kong police

Thailand

Driver charged after Hong Kong police sergeant falls off open-air van, dies in Thailand

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Driver charged with causing death by reckless driving claimed he was unaware of the incident until he saw the news, police say

Driver charged with causing death by reckless driving claimed he was unaware of the incident until he saw the news, police say