A tragic event unfolded yesterday when a pickup truck transporting illegal migrants crashed into a police officer at a checkpoint in Kamphaeng Phet, resulting in the officer’s death. The driver, along with two other suspects, was apprehended following the incident.
The operation, led by Opas Khongmueang, Provincial Police Commander of Kamphaeng Phet, was initiated after police received intelligence about a group smuggling foreign workers from Wang Chao, Tak province. The migrants were being moved through Mueang district, Kamphaeng Phet, using three vehicles. These included a Ford pickup acting as a lead vehicle, a Nissan pickup, and another pickup with a canopy.
Police set up a checkpoint on the Nong Daen-Na Bo Kham road, anticipating the smugglers’ route. At 10pm, officers concealed a police car near the Nong Ping Kai Health Station, with plans to apprehend the suspects.
Around 11.25pm, yesterday, December 17, the Ford pickup, driven by 36 year old Niphan, was spotted fulfilling its role as a lookout vehicle. After it passed, the police initiated their blockade, parking a patrol car to obstruct one lane and deploying a spike strip to puncture tires.
Five minutes later, two more vehicles approached the checkpoint: a Nissan driven by 45 year old Sua, and a pickup with a canopy driven by Songpol. The Nissan veered to dodge the spike strip, causing its front tires to deflate, but the other vehicle accelerated and struck the stationary police car.
The impact forced the officers to leap aside. However, the collision’s force propelled Officer Nattawat Phawatratchapong, nicknamed Moo Arm, into a roadside lamp post, resulting in his death.
Migrant smuggling
Songpol attempted to flee into a nearby sugarcane field but was captured after a police pursuit. Meanwhile, Niphan, unaware of the capture, returned to assist his brother, Songpol, only to be caught himself. The three vehicles were found to be carrying 19 illegal migrants.
During interrogation, the three suspects confessed to transporting the migrants from Wang Chao to Uthai Thani province for a fee of 8,000 baht (US$233) per vehicle. Songpol, responsible for the fatal crash, revealed it was his second such job, claiming he did not see the police car due to the lead vehicle’s sudden swerve. In a state of panic after the crash, he fled the scene.
“Initially, we were informed about the convoy by our source,” said Paradon Chaengdee, a police sergeant involved in the operation.
The police sergeant also detailed the setup of the checkpoint and the sequence of events leading to the crash. He emphasised the readiness of the officers to act upon the intelligence received.
“The second vehicle was stopped by the spike strip, but the third didn’t slow down, resulting in the collision.”
The suspects were interrogated until early today, eventually confessing to all charges. Despite this, Songpol attempted to negotiate a reduction in charges, seeking to be only charged with smuggling the migrants. Police are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure all legal actions are pursued, reported KhaoSod.
Following the incident, Opas visited the scene and the hospital morgue to inspect the deceased officer’s body. He has instructed senior officers to ensure that Nattawat’s funeral is conducted with full honours and that his family receives all entitled benefits.
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