Texting While Driving
Pixabay
Unlike the others in this list, Orachorn “Praewa” Thephasadin na Ayudhya did not intend to commit her crime — but that doesn’t make it any less devastating.
It all started on the night of December 27, 2010, when Ayudhya got in a car and started driving (without a license) in Bangkok, Thailand. At one point, she began texting while driving, and as a result killed nine people.
Distracted, Ayudhya hit a bus, sending it careening into the side of an elevated exit ramp and ejecting people onto the roadway below. When a post-accident photo surfaced of an unharmed and unsympathetic Ayudhya — she was casually leaning against a barricade, texting — public outrage ensued.
The case went to family court, which only found the defendant guilty of driving without a license and prohibited her from driving again until age 25. Ayudhya originally received a two-year sentence, but the judge suspended the term for three years and simply put her on probation, requiring her to visit a probation officer every three months.
Other charges — reckless driving, manslaughter, and using a cell phone while driving — were dropped. Judges said this happened because Ayudhya cooperated, but some suspect it was yet another fruit of wealth: Indeed, Ayudhya hailed from a well-known, affluent family.
In spite of the lenient sentence, Ayudhya and her family filed an appeal. In response, the judge extended probation to four years and added 48 hours of community service a year during her probation. Still unsatisfied, the family took their appeal to the Supreme Court, which upheld the lower courts’ rulings.
As of this writing, Ayudhya has not performed any legitimate community service for three years. She claims this is because she has been “too busy with her studies.” She’s also reportedly never even told the families of the victims that she was sorry.
Next, for more miscarriage of justice cases, discover six rich, famous, and powerful people who probably got away with rape and murder. Then, think evil doesn’t start early? These stories of serial killer teens may convince you otherwise.
