Nursing assistant dies after being hit by pickup truck while helping injured youths in Chiang Mai
A nursing assistant in Chiang Mai died after she was hit by a pickup truck while stopping to help people injured during a clash between two groups of youths.
The incident happened shortly after midnight on Sunday (1 Nov) along the Chiang Mai highway near the Don Chan flyover.
The pickup driver later surrendered to police with the vehicle allegedly involved in the fatal collision.
Two groups allegedly clashed along highway
Mae Ping Police Station received a report about the clash at around 12.05am on 1 Nov.
At the scene, officers found five damaged motorcycles scattered across the road, with one engulfed in flames.
Source: Chiang Mai News
Spent cartridge cases and a gun holster were also recovered as evidence.
Preliminary investigations indicated that two groups had been involved in a confrontation before chasing each other along the highway.
Source: MGR Online
Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots and explosive sounds during the incident.
Two people were also injured in the chaos.
Nursing assistant stopped to help injured people
The victim, identified as Kanokrat Yotthiwong (name transliterated from Thai), was a nursing assistant who happened to be driving past the area.
After seeing injured people on the road, she stopped and got out of her vehicle to help.
Source: MGR Online
While she was attending to one of the injured youths, a pickup truck allegedly driven by someone from the opposing group struck her, causing critical injuries.
Rescue workers administered CPR at the scene, but their efforts were unsuccessful, and she later succumbed to her injuries.
Pickup driver surrenders to police
Later on Sunday morning, the pickup truck driver turned himself in at Mae Ping Police Station and handed over the vehicle involved in the incident.
During preliminary questioning, he reportedly claimed that members of the rival group were attacking him as he drove away.
Source: Chiang Mai News
He alleged that he ducked down inside the vehicle to avoid being hit, causing him to lose sight of the road before striking Ms Kanokrat.
Police are investigating his account and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Rival groups allegedly arranged fight after online feud
Police said the two groups, mostly aged between 20 and 25, had allegedly exchanged threats online before arranging to meet for a confrontation.
Their initial encounter was disrupted when police patrol officers arrived, but the groups reportedly encountered each other again later and continued the dispute on the streets.
Authorities said they have identified those believed to have been involved and were working to bring them in for questioning and prosecution.
Police were also examining the vehicles and other evidence recovered from the scene.
Also read: Pregnant nurse in M’sia killed in motorcycle accident on way to work, daughter in critical condition
Pregnant nurse in M’sia killed in motorcycle accident on way to work, daughter in critical condition
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Featured image adapted from Chiang Mai News and MGR Online.
