Kin of dead student puzzled by cuts, bruises

2nd autopsy mulled amid ‘heatstroke’ explanation

Police inspect a school van where Jihun Thongyu, a 7-year-old student of Ploenchit Witthaya School in Phan Thong district of Chon Buri, was found dead. TV Screen Capture
Police inspect a school van where Jihun Thongyu, a 7-year-old college student of Ploenchit Witthaya School in Phan Thong district of Chon Buri, has been found dead. TELEVISION Screen Capture

The parents of the 7-year-old girl who was on Tuesday mid-day found dead in the school van in Chon Buri mentioned on Thursday they are going to seek a second autopsy if the results of the official one by the police’s Institute of Forensic Medicine fail to clean up their doubts more than how she passed away.

Methika Kosonplangsi, 31, Thai-anan Thongyu, 28, mom and father of Khemmanij or Jihun Thongyu, on Thursday  sought to have the body of their daughter transferred to the Central Institute of Forensic Science under the Justice Ministry while they wait for the police’s standard autopsy results.

“The results are expected in a couple weeks from now as well as the funeral can wait around until all uncertainties are cleared up, ” said Ms Methika.

A preliminary forensic examination found Jihun died due to heatstroke, said Pol Maj Gen Chaipot Suwannarak, deputy office of and speaker for the Provincial Law enforcement Region 2 .

Although the family said it trusts the police’s forensic agency to determine their own daughter’s exact reason for death, Ms Methika expressed concern regarding the bruises on her arms and legs and the scratches on her arms, which she stated she had not observed earlier that early morning when she bathed Jihun.

Lawyer Monchai Chongkrairattanakun said the family has other doubts including why the women’s clothing was so clean and neat even though the preliminary autopsy found she died of the heatstroke.

A private school van driver and a teacher who took the girl to school that will morning were billed with recklessness causing death, said Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, deputy national police chief.

Both have admitted a significant negligence charge and could face up to 10 years within prison and a maximum fine of two hundred, 000 baht every, said Pol Style Damrongsak.

Up to 129 youngsters are known to have been remaining alone in vehicles from 2014 and 2020, six associated with whom consequently died, he said, citing statistics published from the Department of Illness Control that recommend tighter controls are expected.

Schooling Minister Trinuch Thienthong has already ordered work of the Private Education and learning Commission to launch a probe to the latest incident, mentioned Peerasak Rattana, secretary-general of the commission.

A preliminary investigation found that Jihun was among seven students riding in the same van to college that morning. This came to the conclusion that the girl had likely dropped asleep after the lady moved to a back seat to allow a young student to take her place in a front seat, he stated, adding that soon after she apparently succumbed to the heat.