As the untimely death of actress Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong -- who fell off a speedboat into the Chao Phraya River on Thursday night -- has the undivided attention of everyone in the country, the Royal Thai Police is scrambling to build a watertight case in order to clear up any doubts about the tragedy.
Considering the suspects in the case are wealthy businessmen, RTP investigators are under pressure to show that they are capable of handling the matter transparently.
That said, Tangmo's death wasn't just about criminal negligence -- the Department of Harbours and other agencies tasked with overseeing water transport are just as at fault, and they must step in to address the problems.
As Thailand is notorious for its high road accident and death figures, accidents along its waterways garner less media attention. That said, such accidents are just as horrendous as the ones which take place on land. In 2018, 46 tourists died after a boat capsized in Phuket, while more recently a number of lives were lost in accidents along the Chao Phraya River near Bangkok and Ayutthaya.
Such a track record has prompted authorities to ramp up safety inspections of public boats, but privately owned recreational boats -- such as the one Tangmo was on -- are rarely subjected to such checks.
This is a concern because the sector is booming, with more affluent individuals and celebrities using speedboats and yachts to head to restaurants and bars along the river.
While the boat's ownership status remains unclear, one thing is certain -- the boat was not supposed to leave dock that night. The boat's taxes were overdue, and its insurance had lapsed.
Police also found wine glass and red wine stains in the boat. It remains unknown whether the police ran narcotic and alcohol tests on those who were present on the boat.
Even if they did, they might not find any substantial evidence, as the tests on the five people on the boat were carried out after they reported to the police two days later.
Tangmo's friends also gave a confusing explanation about how the actress fell in the river.
The boat captain was reported to have said that he couldn't hear the actress shouting over the loud music from the speakers and boat's engines. Given the drinking that was happening on the boat, it was not a surprise when the police learned that all six aboard the boat hadn't worn a lifejacket, despite their night departure.
The other question is whether the person in charge of the boat that night -- a young, wealthy, supercar importer -- is well versed in boat safety.
The Harbour Department and other relevant authorities cannot afford to remain idle.
Thailand's waterways are quickly becoming a playground for recreational boaters and the department must make sure those behind the steering wheel are fit to not only drive, but responsible for the safety of other people on board.
Failing to enforce safety precautions will only pave the way for more tragedies.
