Police will press three more charges against the driver of the Mercedes-Benz who killed two post-graduate students in a high-speed crash in Ayutthaya last Sunday.
Apart from a charge of reckless driving causing death and property damage, Janepob Veeraporn, 37, will also face additional charges of obstructing police operations, drink-driving causing death and driving while unfit, police said.
Mr Janepob rammed into the rear end of a Ford fiesta at high-speed on Phahon Yothin Road in Bang Pa-in district.
Thanthaphat "Benz" Horsaengchai, 34, and Kritsana Thaworn, 32, who were inside the Ford fiesta were killed in the flames that engulfed their vehicle.
Both were pursuing a master's degree at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University's Buddhism Facutly.
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Deputy national police chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen, who was assigned by the national police chief to monitor the progress of the investigation, said Sunday investigators will visit Mr Janepob at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital where he was admitted following the crash to bring the charges against him.
Horror car: Thanthaphat "Benz" Horsaengchai, 34, and Kritsana Thaworn, 32, died in the inferno that erupted inside their Ford Fiesta that was rammed by Mr Janepob's Mercedes-Benz.
Mr Janepob sustained a knee injury during the crash and was sent to Bang Pa-In Hospital where he reportedly refused to give a blood sample for drug and alcohol tests.
He later requested to be transferred to Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital in Bangkok.
Police on Friday took him to Ayutthaya Provincial Court to begin 12 days of detention.
But his lawyer filed a request for bail on the ground that his client needs to receive further hospital treatment. The court granted him 200,000-baht bail and revoked his driving licence.
Responding to criticism that police were slow to respond in the early stages of the case, Pol Gen Pongsapat said the probe results are expected to be released this week after he had given the investigation team seven days to wrap up their probe particularly in aspects relating to the drug and alcohol tests.
Pol Gen Pongsapat also said he will meet the family of Kritsana in Chanthaburi to express his condolences, give them financial aid from the national police chief and update them on the progress in the probe regarding the case.
Pol Maj Gen Sutthi Phuangpikul, the Ayutthaya provincial police chief, said investigators held a meeting to consider evidence including video footage and statements from hospital staff.
Police agreed they will charge Mr Janepob with drink-driving causing death and driving while unfit.
Pol Maj Gen Sutthi added that an offence of driving while "unfit" carries a penalty of a three-month jail term and a fine of between 2,000 and 10,000 baht.
A police source said if a driver refuses to take a test for alcohol, he or she is presumed to have been drinking.
Pol Col Phuwadit Chanakachathorn, deputy chief of the Ayutthaya provincial police who was assigned to lead the investigation, posted a message on the Line app to the media, saying the investigation's progress will be reported regularly to the provincial police chief, who will provide the information to the media himself.
Pol Col Phuwadit said investigators will today question officers at Phra-in Racha station in Ayutthaya after they were accused of deliberately mishandling the probe.
They will also speak to nurses and hospital staff.
The officer also said police need some time to gather evidence to ensure they have a watertight case against the suspect.
Relatives of Thanthaphat collected her remains Sunday, following a royally-sponsored cremation at Wat Thawee Kara Anant in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district on Saturday.
Parts of the remains will be released into the sea at Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri and some remains will be taken to India to be released into the Ganges River, Pinyaphat, the victim's sister, said.
In Chanthaburi's Khlung district, family members of Kritsana also collected his remains following a royally-sponsored cremation at Wat Yao Bon.
Social media was awash Sunday with this photo of a truck carrying a message on the left mudflap saying "Miss you, Sor Ngor 3333" and "Ready for a free kiss, Bang" on the right mudflap. The sarcastic messages refer to the Sor Ngor 3333 plate number of Janepob Veeraporn's Mercedes-Benz. (Via Rodcing.com, Facebook)
The family will keep his remains at their home and part of the remains will be also kept at a Buddhist temple in India.
Meanwhile, a source at the Office of the Attorney-General told the Bangkok Post that little progress has been made in bringing Vorayudh "Boss" Yoovidhya, the grandson of the late founder of the Red Bull empire, to hear charges against him in a hit and run case on Sept 3, 2012, which killed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, a Thong Lor police station traffic officer.
The source said a new team of prosecutors was being formed after the prosecutor who handled the case died.
Mr Vorayudh was charged on three counts in connection with the fatal incident.
The speeding charge against the young heir was dropped in 2013 because the one-year statute of limitations on it expired.
He is wanted on two other charges of reckless driving causing death and failing to stop his car to help a victim.
