Woman Seeks Justice After Deputy Mayor's Tractor Kills Husband
A woman from Buriram is demanding justice after a tractor driven by a subdistrict deputy mayor pulled out in front of her husband’s motorcycle, killing him and leaving her with severe head injuries. She says police initially downplayed her injuries as minor and have not pursued hit‑and‑run charges against the driver, who only came forward four days later. She fears she will not receive fair treatment because of her ordinary status and wants a transparent investigation and proper compensation.
On 15 Oct 69, journalist received a complaint from Suchaphich Mint, 24, of Ban Sao Ao, Hin Lek Fai Subdistrict, Khu Mueang District, Buriram Province. She said that on 29 Aug her husband was picking her up from a dental clinic in Khu Mueang when, about three kilometres from home at roughly 20:30, a large tractor suddenly emerged from the side road. He tried to steer away but hit the plow, throwing both of them in opposite directions. She regained consciousness four days later at Buriram Provincial Hospital after being transferred from Khu Mueang Hospital due to serious condition, and learned her husband had died at the scene and been cremated. Doctors reported multiple facial skull fractures and intracranial bleeding. On 11 Sep she was allowed to go home to recover but must wear a facial frame and cannot speak; her total hospital stay was twelve days. On 6 Oct investigators from Hin Lek Fai Police Station summoned her for statement. She gave a truthful account but expressed doubt over the police conclusion that her injuries were merely minor despite being near‑fatal. As an ordinary citizen without rank she fears bias from officials who favour each other, and turned to the media to highlight police conduct, especially regarding compensation which the deputy mayor told her to “go sue”. Her father, Panyon, 45, inspected the scene and initially saw no tractor there; villagers later identified it as belonging to a deputy mayor from Khao Dong district who admitted ownership after four days. The father also brought the subdistrict council chairman, Thong Bai Cheripokon, to admit driving the tractor. He questions why the driver did not stop to help the injured and fled, and whether this constitutes hit‑and‑run, which police have not charged. He wants a fair investigation and proper compensation beyond the basic legal coverage, as she will need long‑term facial treatment.
