UPDATE: Woman Charged with Reckless Driving Causing Death After Phuket Vegetarian Festival Accident Kills One Person

Phuket –

A female Mercedes Benz sedan driver is facing charges of reckless driving causing death after crashing into a famous vegetarian festival area in Phuket Town just days before the official start of the event.

Our previous story:

One person was pronounced dead at the scene while at least seven people have been injured after a sedan plunged into the vegetarian festival area in Phuket Town just days before the official launch of the festival.

Now for the update:

The Phuket City Deputy Chief Lieutenant Colonel Sarawut Chotsuwan told The Phuket Express that there was one death and in total ten injuries including the Mercedes Benz driver now identified publicly as Mrs. Aroon Thongsarn, 62.

Mrs. Aroon told Phuket City police that she became dizzy while driving before she mistakenly pushed the accelerator instead of the brake, which caused the accident.

A local hospital has yet to reveal her alcohol blood test results. However, at this stage, she is facing charges of reckless driving causing damages, injuries, and a death, Colonel Sarawut noted.

Mrs. Aroon has not released an immediate plea, however, appears to be sticking to her statement of suffering a medical health emergency which led to the incident.

The incident has also led to continued complaints on social media asking why the road was still open to traffic, even one-way, when there was limited space and many vendors were already selling vegetarian dishes. Phuket officials have not formally responded to the questions at this time other than stating that the festival had not officially begun yet during the time of the accident, but when the festival opens the road will be closed to traffic and open to pedestrians only.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for more than four years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.