Red Bull founder's grandson arrested for fatal hit-and-run

The son of Chalerm Yoovidhya, of Red Bull fame and owner of Siam Winery, was on Monday morning arrested on a hit-and-run charge, and a Thong Lor police superintendent was transferred to an inactive post for allegedly arresting am innocent driver.

Police said Vorayuth Yoovidhya, known as Boss, had confessed to the charge. Boss is the third son of Mr Chalerm, son of the deceased Red Bull energy drink tycoon Chaleo Yoovidhya.

Boss, aged 27, told investigators that he was driving a black Ferrari and ran into a motorcycle about 5.30am on Monday on Sukhumvit Soi 47, according to police.

The motorcyle rider, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert of Thong Lor police station, was killed. His body was dragged about 200 metres along the road. He reportedly suffered a broken neck and multiple broken bones.

Police said his pistol could not to be found when investigators arrived at the scene. His body was sent for an autopsy.

(story continues below)

(Photos by Kosol Nakachol)

Prior to the arrest, witnesses told police that a black sports car ran into the motorcycle and then sped away. Police later found the car parked in a big house on Sukhumvit Soi 53. The house was identified as belonging to the Red Bull family.

Metropolitan Police Division 5 deputy chief Jirapat Phumjit said he had talked to a maid inside the house, asking that the hit-and-run suspect surrender for questioning. The maid told him that the house owner was out.

Police did not entirely believe the maid and dispatched a team to surround the house.

Pol Lt-Col Chotewat Luangwilai, the deputy chief of Thong Lor station, said Pol Lt-Col Pannapon Nammuang, the Thong Lor superintendent, was this morning transferred to an inactive post for allegedly arresting the wrong driver earlier in the day.

Reports said Pol Maj-Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, the new Metropolitan Police chief, went into the house where the sports car was parked to talk to the people inside. Reporters were not allowed into the premises.

The suspect was later arrested.

"We traced a gasoline trail which leaked onto the road until it led us to the house with the Ferrari," said Pol Lt-Col Viradol Thubthimdee of Thong Lor police station, where Mr Vorayuth was taken for questioning, AFP later reported.

"He will be charged with causing death by driving and failing to stop and inform the authorities, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine," Pol Lt-Col Viradol said, adding that Mr Vorayuth denied the accusation.

Share your thoughts

Discussion 1 : 03/09/2012 at 11:51 PM
BP lets hear the other part of this story pls. Was the other guy the officer arrested driving a Ferrari? Was he from a rich family? What was the evidence the officer had to arrest him? Where was he arrested? Come on lets hear it all. You probaly won't let this through though
Discussion 2 : 03/09/2012 at 11:46 PM
Is a "Ban from driving" ever considered in Thailand?
Discussion 3 : 03/09/2012 at 10:17 PM
Ok What's going on? First this story states the son confessed to the crime, then a cop arrested the wrong person, then the son denies the charges. The only thing I'm sure of is all those $$$$$$$ signs on the kid's cap are going to be needed.
Discussion 4 : 03/09/2012 at 09:29 PM
Shooting a policeman to death, yet walking free and instructing how to shoot more lifes. So what could we expect from those hitting a policeman with a Ferarri causing his death, born into the elites of this corruption land?
Discussion 5 : 03/09/2012 at 09:21 PM
The son’s kill and the father make arrangements of course your father have to be rich!
Discussion 6 : 03/09/2012 at 09:05 PM
I've known a few Ferrari owners over the years & not one has handed me the keys & said 'take it for a spin'. I would doubt that if you had a Ferrari that you would have a 'driver'.
Discussion 7 : 03/09/2012 at 07:22 PM
Let's NOT instruct the court to 'come down hard'. Let's see what the circumstances were. So far his crime is leaving the scene of an accident (a Thai national hobby). Accidents happen - and it has yet to be seen who was at fault. There are plenty of people prepared to convict this man because he has a Ferrari. He could well have been drunk, speeding and negligent... but as yet we don't know.
Discussion 8 : 03/09/2012 at 06:22 PM
So, he has denied the accusation...i bet he claims there were two people i the car and that means another person will take the rap. Simples.
Discussion 9 : 03/09/2012 at 06:16 PM
I wonder if this was one of the 2,500 cars imported as 'undervalued' in the corruption case that politicians are busy trying to squash.
Discussion 10 : 03/09/2012 at 05:49 PM
This hit-and-run is shocking. It was 5.30am so it wasn't dark. The policeman was hit and dragged for 200 metres. Not just knocked of his bike but DRAGGED 200 METRES. The car sustained considerable damage. The driver can't even say he didn't know he hit something. So we wait for our government to show leadership and say enough is enough. Instruct the prosecution to come down hard. No back-handers, no apologies, show that killing someone, anyone, with a car and running away is not on. Give this bogan the maximum and make it stick.
Discussion 11 : 03/09/2012 at 05:48 PM
Not that he'll serve a day, but 10 years for a heinous act of manslaughter vs. 20 for allegedly sending some SMS messages? Even with the stronger baht, life is still cheap in Thailand.
Discussion 12 : 03/09/2012 at 05:36 PM
Inactive post equals paid holiday funded by taxpayers .
Discussion 13 : 03/09/2012 at 05:32 PM
Chalerm can recommend a good lawyer for him.
Discussion 14 : 03/09/2012 at 05:03 PM
Spiceman D6, yeah, what about the fine print? The fact that only people with a degree can become politically active in this country, like founding a new party or become a member of parliament, is not very democratic to begin with. It leaves out maybe 70 percent of the entire population.It's like a privileged few are playing a game called "democracy", although it's more like "Monopoly".
Discussion 15 : 03/09/2012 at 03:44 PM
This is the reason why Democracy doesn't work in Thailand, if justice (and votes) can be easily bought by rich folks. What happens to the foundation of Democracy, the Equal Protection of the Law for All, regardless of how rich or poor or somebody or nobody?
Discussion 16 : 03/09/2012 at 02:35 PM
If that "Pra-Wa" girl, the underaged driver driving without a driver license, killing 9 innocent people, and beating jail by a long shot, this grandson of the Red Bull Founder has absolutely nothing to worry about. Just get lots of money ready to pay off the family of this unlucky policeman who was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, and everything will be taken care of. But if you are a poor grandson of nobody, you are absolutely out of luck! In Thailand, money talks, folks!
Discussion 17 : 03/09/2012 at 02:17 PM
Let me guess. A suspended two-year prison sentence ?
Discussion 18 : 03/09/2012 at 02:06 PM
Vorayuth Yoovidhya, known as Boss, is obligated to re-pay society for his inexcusable actions. Perhaps Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm can make a few phone calls and get the Boss a job as a driving instructor for the police department.
Discussion 19 : 03/09/2012 at 01:52 PM
what is the point of having a law when the law is not implemented a few million will pass hand and forgiveness will be accepted,was this coward who fled the accident was even breathalized ?
Discussion 20 : 03/09/2012 at 01:41 PM
How many police have been transferred to inactive posts? It would seem that there are many and still on full pay...amazing Thailand

Back to top

More From Bangkokpost.com