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British pensioner, 70, ‘crushes a local man to death while reversing pick-up truck near a Thai beach’
- Stephen Peter Hobbs, 70, from Newport, was reportedly the driver of the truck
- Witnesses said his car suddenly reversed in Rayong province on August 4
- Witnesses claimed the Brit slammed into four motorcycles and crushed two men
- One of the men Niran Pramuan, 53, died at the scene, while Chanasak, 32, survived serious injuries
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A British pensioner has been arrested after allegedly crashing his car and crushing a local man to death and injuring another in Thailand.
Stephen Peter Hobbs, 70, from Newport, was reportedly parking his pickup truck in front of the beach before sunset when his car suddenly reversed in Rayong province on August 4.
Witnesses claimed the Brit slammed into four motorcycles and crushed two men against a lamppost. One of the men Niran Pramuan, 53, died at the scene, while Chanasak, 32, survived serious injuries.
Stephen Peter Hobbs, 70, from Newport, was reportedly parking his pickup truck in front of the beach before sunset when his car suddenly reversed in Rayong province on August 4. Pictured: The over-turned pickup truck is seen on the beach in Thailand
The men were taken to Rayong hospital while the Brit was remanded in police custody for questioning, with a police official suggesting he could have been drunk.
Lieutenant Colonel Nattawat Ngobudda said: ‘Locals said that Stephen is a regular drinker and is often found drunk in the area. They said that the foreign man occasionally drives in the wrong lane.’
Police and rescue team paramedics found an overturned car on the side of the road while Mr Hobbs appeared weak in the driver’s seat.
The volunteer retrieved Mr Hobbs from the wreck and was given first aid at the scene. Four rescuers pulled the old man out of the vehicle.
Officers also performed CPR on those injured, including Nirun, who was critical after the collision and did not survive. Another injured Chanasak was also in serious condition and taken to Rayong hospital for treatment.
Video taken at the scene in the aftermath of the incident showed an elderly man being dragged out of the window of an over-turned vehicle.
Video taken at the scene in the aftermath of the incident (pictured) showed an elderly man being dragged out of the window of an over-turned vehicle
An emergency responder was also filmed performing CPR on a man in a neck brace, presumed to be one of the two men struck by the vehicle.
Eyewitnesses told police that before the incident, Mr Hobbs had parked his pickup truck in a beachfront parking lot before sunset.
However, the car suddenly reversed, smashing the bystanders who happened to be behind the car against a post. The car then continued to move forward and crashed into other vehicles in the parking lot.
Lieutenant Colonel Nattawat added: ‘Damages at the scene will be assessed. We will prosecute Stephen after he recovers from the injuries for causing the crash.
‘His alcohol blood level will be tested and we will also coordinate with the embassy to contact his relatives.’
Rayong province is in the east of the country, around 80 miles from the capital of Bangkok sits on the gulf of Thailand, as is known for its national parks and beaches.