Later on Saturday, Surachat Boonsri presented himself at the city police station and confessed that he had been piloting the oil tanker when it hit the ferry. He claimed that he did not hang around to help the stricken boat and its passengers because his boat was big and he had a full cargo of oil on board.
After he had given his story to the police, Mr Boonsri and the vessel’s owner visited those injured in the collision at Sri Ayutthaya Hospital. The owner said he would pay any hospital bills incurred in their treatment.
The accident happened as the ferry was crossing the Chao Phraya from the jetty near Phanan Choeng Temple. The oil-carrier was heading upstream for the Pa Sak River and Tha Rua and struck the ferry’s stern. Local officials said they would salvage the ferry this week.
Hit and run Ayutthaya boat skipper gives self up
News in Asia
The skipper of a boat which rammed and sank a river ferry in Ayutthaya on Saturday has given himself up. The accident occurred at 07:00 on the Chao Phraya River in the central Thai city and injured four people. After the crash, the skipper fled the scene.