Doctor's Hit-and-Run Settlement Talks Stall Over Compensation
A Chiang Rai doctor involved in a hit-and-run that killed two university students and injured another failed to reach a settlement, with families demanding significantly more compensation than his initial offer of 100,000 baht per victim.
A doctor whose car struck a group of motorcyclists at a red light in Chiang Rai's Nang Lae intersection killed two first-year female students from Mae Fah Luang University and seriously injured another. Police found no alcohol in the driver's system, and he cooperated with authorities. The case is proceeding under charges of reckless driving causing death and injury, with evidence gathered from security camera footage.
On September 15, both parties met at Ban Du Police Station for mediation, but talks remained tense. The doctor presented garlands as an apology; the injured student's relatives accepted them, but families of the deceased refused and would not look at the doctor. The main obstacle is compensation: the doctor offered 100,000 baht per deceased victim and 50,000 baht for the injured student, while the families are demanding a seven-figure amount.
The doctor stated that human life cannot be reduced to money and that no sum could truly replace the lost lives. He said he has already liquidated assets to provide initial assistance to the families and has given a statement to investigators. The lawyer for the victims' families noted that the compensation offer does not reflect the scale of loss and impact. Another mediation session has been scheduled to continue negotiations following legal procedures.
