The son of a former politician has been charged with reckless driving causing death and drug use after he hit a group of students in Songkhla on Wednesday, killing two and injuring 13 others.
The suspect, Wissanu Tongsai, 35, told police that a motorcycle had suddenly cut in front of his pickup, causing him to lose control and his truck hit the students.
However, police said investigators did not believe him and conducted a drug test, which returned a positive result for amphetamines.
Ban Phru Tiao School had just carried out its annual scout hike that day. Many of the students were resting at a checkpoint, about 500 metres from the school.
The pickup truck, driven by Mr Wissanu, who is the son of a former member of the Samnak Kham Municipal Council, crashed into the checkpoint, where at least 20 people, both students and teachers, were carrying out safety checks.
