Bangkok: A grandmother has sought justice for her 13-year-old grandson who was blinded in one eye after being hit by a drunk motorcyclist. Four months have passed since the incident, and the family has not received any compensation. The case has stalled with the police, who have been unable to reach the perpetrator by phone.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred on October 25, 2014, on Phraya Suren Road in Khan Na Yao District. The boy was riding pillion on a motorcycle with friends when they were hit by another motorcyclist. The collision caused the boy to fall and lose consciousness. Upon waking up in the hospital, he discovered that he was blind in his left eye due to a deteriorating optic nerve and a broken eye socket.
The boy's grandmother revealed that she has only met the perpetrator once at the Khan Na Yao Police Station in January. Although the motorcyclist, who is over 50 years old, admitted to drinking alcohol, no breathalyzer test was conducted at the time due to his hospitalization. The family's attempts to follow up with the police have been met with the response that the perpetrator could not be contacted, leaving the family to bear medical expenses alone. The boy, once active in sports, can no longer participate in activities like boxing.
CCTV footage, obtained by the family, clearly shows the motorcyclist swerving into the boy's motorcycle. Despite this evidence, the police have made no significant progress. Attempts to contact the perpetrator's relatives have been met with insults.
The family received a one-time compensation of 30,000 baht from the Accident Protection Act, related to the motorcycle the boy was riding, but nothing from the at-fault party. The hospital has not declared the boy as disabled, stating that only one eye is damaged, which complicates the process of claiming further benefits.
Mr. Ekkapop Lueangprasert, founder of the Sai Mai Must Survive page, has pledged to follow up on the case. He plans to coordinate with the Superintendent of Khan Na Yao Police Station to ensure the perpetrator is held accountable. Additionally, he seeks any medical professional capable of treating the boy's eye and will work with the Ministry of Justice to secure victim compensation in this criminal case.