KANCHANABURI - A French tourist was killed by a car on a zebra crossing in Muang district of this province on Wednesday night.
The fatal crash happened on Saengchutor Road in front of JJ Market in tambon Ban Nua, said Pol Capt Thammawat Sukheewat, deputy investigation chief at Muang police station, who was alerted at 10.45pm.
Police and rescue workers who rushed to the scene found the body of a 40-year-old French man lying in a pool of blood on the roadside, with multiple injuries to his face, legs and arms and body. Medics gave him first aid before sending him to Phaholpolpayuhasena Hospital.
Driver Krittaphat Kamrai, 24, a native of Kanchanaburi, was waiting for police at the scene. A test taken at the scene showed he had no alcohol in his body.
The injured tourist was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after midnight, said Pol Col Surayut Mekmangkol, chief of Kanchanaburi police. The body was sent to Police General Hospital in Bangkok for a post-mortem examination. The French embassy was notified about the death.
Security video from the scene showed the French man crossing the road from the market. After walking across the road divider and taking two or three steps on the zebra crossing, he was struck heavily by the car driven by Mr Krittaphat.
Police said their investigation showed the driver had driven into the crossing without applying his brakes. The French man tried unsuccessfully to jump to avoid the crash.
Police have charged the driver with reckless driving causing death. He is being held in police custody.
