Greg Yamada – Drunk-driving American Injured Family

Police are seeking information relating to Gregory Yamada following a road traffic incident in Thailand that resulted in serious injuries to a British mother and her young child.

Gregory Yamada, 39, crashed into the pedestrians while they were on holiday on the island of Koh Chang in Thailand, on 22nd January 2024.

Following the incident, he departed Thailand and did not appear at the scheduled court proceedings relating to the incident. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued by the Thai authorities.

When the motorbike ploughed through them, the mother was knocked unconscious and suffered severe head and body injuries, while the 4 year old child sustained sinus fractures as well as injuries to her eye, face and body when she was thrown through the air.

Greg Yamada, from San Jose, California, was four times over the limit when he was picked up at the scene after the crash on his powerful Honda motorbike.

He was charged with 'driving while drunk causing a crash that injured other people'.

The American is facing a minimum of three years and up to six years in prison and had been due in court on 2nd February, but he did not show.

Officers issued an arrest warrant for Greg Yamada, who is believed to have initially fled across the border into neighbouring Cambodia.

The father said: 'The injuries my partner and daughter suffered were horrific. From what I witnessed, they are lucky to still be alive.'

'At the hospital on the night of the crash he was evidently still very drunk and denied any involvement. I could not believe it. There was no sign of accountability or remorse. Unless he is brought to justice, I fear he could do the same thing again.'

A police report into the crash states that Greg Yamada had smashed into the family at around 7:45pm local time. Officers arrived some 15 minutes later and all of them, including the suspect, were taken to hospital.

The mother and daughter suffered the worst injuries and were later rushed by speedboat to a hospital on the mainland in Trat province.

The arrest warrant, issued on 1st February by Police Lieutenant Chingchai Chotisiri of Koh Chang police station, states that Gregory Yamada had been 'charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances, which caused the collision that negligently injured the person, based on Section 43 (2) (4), 157, 160 paragraphs one and two of the Road Traffic Act, along with Section 390 of the Criminal Code'.

'The details of the case were given to the court and he was due to appear there.' 'There are no other suspects in the case and all of the evidence was given to the court.'

The arrest warrant states that there is 'reasonable suspicion that the suspect will flee' and the suspect is facing a 'minimum of three years in prison' if found guilty by the court.