BANGKOK TRAGEDY – Lorry driver told Thai police that he was powerless to avoid the tragedy. Even as he swerved immediately, the child in his baby walker hit the rear left wheels of his truck. The mother of the infant was found in tears cradling her infant son
Thai police in Samut Prakan province on the southern realms of Bangkok’s metropolis are investigating a terrible tragedy that occurred last Thursday afternoon. An eight month old baby boy was crushed to death when his baby walker somehow managed to force its way past a gate fence on to a busy road just as a heavy truck was en route.
The infant boy had been playing near his mother within his home before the incident occurred. The child was exercising on an a baby walker when it pushed open a 1 metre high barrier which also served as a gate and rolled on to the road just as a heavy truck was approaching.
Shocking incident on Thursday afternoon south of Bangkok saw mother cradling her crushed infant outside her home as rescue workers arrived
The shocking incident occurred in the afternoon. Thai police at Phra Samut Jaedee received notification to attend at half past two. Police and rescue workers who rushed to the reported accident met a sad and deeply upsetting scene. The disintegrated baby walker was on the road and nearby, the distraught and crying mother of the child was cradling her fatally injured son. He had been impacted by the rear of a ten wheeler truck which had been travelling along the road.
Driver of heavy truck awaited Thai police
The mother was named as 30 year old Wilawan Pitpan and her son was identified as Nontawant Saingam. The 61 year old driver of the heavy duty truck, Sanan Sopapong, awaited the police to explain what had transpired. His truck was parked just 5 metres away from the anguished mother and her dead child.
Mother had been talking with her sister on a chat app as child played behind the gate/fence
The mother of the child explained to police that she had been engaged in a text conversation via an online app with her sister. The child was within her sight and thought to be secure within the perimeter of the shop house which she and her husband had rented for the last three years. Unfortunately, the temporary fence which also served as a gate, designed to keep her child secure, fell away after the infant and his walker somehow forced it. The mother explained that the infant boy had somehow pushed his way out with his walker and rolled onto the road running directly parallel to the shop house. The shop house is located on Soi Suksawatat. It is operated as an air conditioning service shop named as Thidarat Air Service as well as being home to the family. The father of the infant was later seen weeping as the body of the little toddler was a laid on a table as medics examined his condition.
Driver tried to swerve but truck was too large
The driver of the ten wheel truck explained to investigating police that he was driving from a housing estate when quite suddenly, the baby and his roller appeared to be coming onto the road. He made an attempt to swerve in order to avoid the child but the truck was simply too big and the distance too small. The baby and its walker were hit by the left rear wheels, killing the child instantly.
Local Thai police are continuing to investigate the incident.
