Drink-drive charge for death crash Red Bull heir

Published on 07/09/2012 00:00

Thai police have charged the Red Bull energy drink heir accused of killing a police officer in Bangkok with drink driving, while speeding in his Ferrari and fleeing the scene.

Tests taken in the hours after Monday’s crash showed Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 27, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.063 per cent, exceeding the legal limit of 0.05, said police.

Vorayuth was yesterday summoned to hear the new charge of drunk driving. He has already been charged with causing death by reckless driving and escaping an arrest.

But his lawyer Samak Chaowapanant told the Bangkok Post, referring to Vorayuth by a nickname,: “I understand that after the crash and his surrender, Boss drank that night to relieve his tenseness… but he did not drink before the incident happened. ”

Police said Vorayuth admitted he was driving the Ferrari that struck the officer’s motorcycle but said the officer had swerved in front of his vehicle. Witnesses said the Ferrari dragged the officer’s body along the road before speeding off, but police followed oil streaks to the gated estate of late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, one of Thailand’s wealthiest men before he died this year.

The sports car had a badly dented bumper, scuffed bonnet and cracked windscreen.