LAMPANG– In a terrifying reminder of the dangers of drunk driving, a local man caused severe destruction on a Saturday morning after crashing his white Toyota sedan into a motorcycle and then plowing straight into a row of commercial shops.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the drunk driver so heavily intoxicated that he had to be physically carried out of his vehicle.
A breathalyzer test later revealed an astonishing blood alcohol concentration of over 300 milligrams percent, a number that far exceeds the legal limit. This shocking report from MGR Online highlights the severe risks of getting behind the wheel after a night of heavy drinking.
The incident took place around 10:00 AM on Phrabat Road in the Mueang Lampang District. The driver, identified as 47-year-old Piya from the Phichai sub-district, had reportedly been drinking with friends all night at a house in a nearby alley.
Instead of sleeping it off, he decided to drive home the next morning. However, things went horribly wrong almost immediately.
As Piya turned his car out of the alley, he crashed into a Honda Click motorcycle driving down the middle of the road. The rider, whose bike bore a Phayao license plate, was knocked to the ground and injured. Local rescue workers quickly rushed to the scene to provide first aid to the motorcyclist.
Unfortunately, the chaos did not end there. Rather than hitting the brakes after the first collision, the panicked and highly intoxicated driver likely stepped on the gas pedal instead. The car surged forward, violently crashing into a two-story commercial building across the street.
Businesses Destroyed in Seconds
The building housed two local businesses: a popular Taiwanese milk tea shop and a tailor shop named “Daisuke.” The impact of the crash was devastating. The white Toyota smashed directly into the milk tea booth, crushing it completely before coming to a halt.
According to the owners of the milk tea shop, Khemmanat and Thanaset, the financial damage is estimated to be nearly 100,000 baht.
Here is a breakdown of the destruction caused by the crash:
- The Milk Tea Booth:The entire structure was completely demolished and pushed off its foundation.
- Equipment and Furniture:All the drink-making equipment and tables inside the booth were ruined.
- Glass Front:The thick glass window of the shop shattered, though a protective sticker film stopped the dangerous shards from flying everywhere.
- Structural Damage:The dividing wall between the milk tea shop and the neighboring tailor shop collapsed from the heavy impact.
Despite the massive property damage, the situation could have been far worse. Khemmanat shared that she usually sits right inside the milk tea booth every morning at 10:00 AM.
By a stroke of pure luck, she and her partner had stepped out to buy supplies when the crash occurred. She believes that if she had been sitting there, she would have been severely injured or worse.
Similarly, the 69-year-old owner of the tailor shop, Uncle Wirot, was attending a funeral in another province when his neighbors called to tell him the bad news. He rushed back to find the front of his shop in ruins. Both business owners are now left wondering when they will be able to reopen and earn a living again.
Severe Consequences for Drunk Driving
When police officers approached the crashed vehicle, the driver was still slumped in the driver’s seat. He was heavily intoxicated and barely conscious. Officers even found an empty bottle of liquor inside the car.
Because he could not stand on his own, the police had to pull him out and seat him on a chair. Testing his alcohol level confirmed everyone’s suspicions: a staggering 300 mg%. To put this into perspective, driving with such a high level of alcohol severely impairs motor skills, reaction times, and basic decision-making.
Consequently, all three victims—the injured motorcyclist and the two business owners—have filed official police reports at the Mueang Lampang Police Station. The driver will undoubtedly face severe legal charges for his reckless actions.
This frightening accident serves as a stark warning to the public. Drunk driving does not just risk your own life; it threatens the safety and livelihoods of innocent people around you. If you drink, never drive.
