On Thursday, January 2, tragedy struck in the Chiang Mai province of Thailand as 58-year-old Kia Sae-wang, a Thai pedestrian, was crossing the street to have a meal at a local restaurant. Unbeknownst to her, this would be her final outing. The unfortunate incident occurred when 38-year-old Philip Edward Morrow, an American tourist, was riding a dirt bike and collided with Kia, tragically resulting in her untimely demise.
Shortly after the tragic accident, a crowd of onlookers and first responders quickly gathered around Kia Sae-wang to offer assistance. As reported by Khaosod English, Morrow felt an overwhelming sense of remorse as he knelt down beside the accident scene. Understandably, he was filled with anxiety, fearing that he had made a life-altering mistake, and he could not help but apologize to Sae-wang’s family.
The emergency responders quickly performed CPR on her and swiftly transported her to Mae On Hospital. Philip Edward Morrow and Sae-wang’s family were then taken to the local police station for questioning. It was at that moment that the police received the devastating news that Kia Sae-wang had passed away from her injuries at the hospital.
Morrow humbled himself before Sae-weng’s family, consumed by profound remorse. According to Khaosod, Sae-weng’s family did not harbor anger towards Morrow. Instead, they displayed remarkable understanding and believed in the authenticity of his remorse. This extraordinary act of compassion is particularly noteworthy considering the devastating news of Kia’s demise.
Investigations Continue
The investigation uncovered the previously mentioned information about the circumstances surrounding Kia Sae-wang’s death. During the accident, Philip Edward Morrow was riding his dirt bike with a friend. As a consequence, Morrow faced charges of reckless driving leading to a fatality.
Thailand has strict penalties for murder, with sentences ranging from decades in prison to the death penalty, as reported by NDTV World. However, the consequences differ in cases of accidental killing. In 2022, Norawit Buadok was sentenced to a year and 15 days in prison for the death of Waralak Supawaty-Jariyakul. It was determined that he had been speeding when he tragically ran over Waralak.
Waralak’s family expressed their dissatisfaction with the sentencing, deeming it as lenient. Benar News reports that under similar circumstances, individuals could typically face up to 10 years of imprisonment. As for Philip Edward Morrow, only the local courts and the passage of time will ascertain his fate.
“As for whether repenting and apologizing would help reduce his punishment, we don’t know,” Jakarin Atthasongphong, Police Col. and superintendent of the Mae On Police Station, said. “It is the court’s responsibility to serve the sentence.”
