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Red Bull’s “Boss” Yoovidhya and the Shocking Tale of the Ferrari FF Fatal Crash

George Orwell said it best: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” We’re not talking about literal pigs here like he did, but the saying still applies: not all men are equal and, sadly so, some are more equal than others in the eyes of the law.
Vorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FF 6 photos
Photo: Facebook / Vorayuth Yoovidhya
Vorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FFVorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FFVorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FFVorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FFVorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FF
Look no further than the strange and controversial story of one Vorayuth Yoovidhya.

The name might not ring a bell, but his family’s history will definitely make you go “aaah!” He is the grandson of the founder of the Red Bull empire Chaleo Yoovidhya, a 32-year-old man who calls himself “Boss,” whose vanity plates all read “B055 RBR” for “Boss. Red Bull Racing,” a socialite whose parents are worth an estimated $20 billion. He is the same man who killed a police officer on his bike in September 2012 and has still been enjoying a life of luxury all these years.

Yoovidhya’s story is considered the best example of the double standard applied to the elite in Thailand and of how “the deadly rich kids” can get away with criminal acts at the wheel – the same acts that would land a common person behind bars for the rest of their life.

Last month, all charges against Yoovidhya were dropped, reigniting attention into the controversial case that stalled and dragged outside of the courts where it should have been judged, until “Boss” flew the coop. Last week, Thai officials announced two independent probes into how the case was handled, one into the police investigation and one in the Office of Attorney General (OAG). Results are expected to be made public on August 20, CNN reports.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FF
Photo: edition.cnn.com
On September 3, 2012, Yoovidhya was at the wheel of his new, gray Ferrari FF, roaring at 170 kph (110 mph) through the city. He hit Sgt. Major Wichien Klanprasert, who was traveling on his motorcycle, from the rear and continued speeding without stopping, until the bike and the body of the officer eventually fell off. To track Yoovidhya down, police had to follow the trail of leaked oil all the way to the Red Bull compound.

Initially, a driver for the family claimed he’d been driving that night but, within minutes, Yoovidhya turned himself in. His attorney said that he hadn’t fled the scene to run, but to speak to his father before authorities arrived. A similar excuse was offered for the alcohol on his breath: the accident got him so shaken up that he’d had a few drinks after it happened, to steady the nerves. Cocaine traces in his blood were not because he’d been doing drugs before getting behind the wheel, but because he’d taken medicine prescribed for dental work.

Yoovidhya was booked and released on bail (the equivalent of $16,000) within hours. Then, for the next several years, he made sure to miss 8 summonses to court, leading in a failure by the OAG to have him charged. He was looking at five criminal charges, including speeding, fatal hit and run, and reckless driving causing death. The statute of limitations for the first two expired within a year, while Yoovidhya conveniently missed court hearings because he was either out of the country “on business,” or “ill.”

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FF
Photo: theguardian.com / AFP
According to reports in both the local and international media, this was more than just a case of authorities dragging their feet in charging a man who had admitted to the crime. Technically, Yoovidhya never admitted guilt, but he did say he was driving, denied speeding and then argued the police officer had cut him off, thus causing the accident that resulted in his own death. The rich are never guilty of anything, not if they can see to it.

There was a lot of strange stuff happening with the investigation. Eyewitnesses kept appearing out of thin air to vouch for him, experts’ analyses kept changing, and the key eyewitness eventually ended up dead one day after Thai authorities announced they were reopening the case. Because, indeed, in what could best be described as a very low blow to even the most corrupt legal system and common sense in general, in July 2020, a full 8 years after the fact, all charges against Yoovidhya were dropped.

Not that “Boss” cares much about that. He’s been MIA since April 2017, when he fled the country one day before he was supposed to be formally charged. He’s still living the good life, though. He’s been flying into Venice or to the Alps for family vacations, hanging out at the London family home, visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Osaka, attending Formula One events around the world, fine-dining in France, boarding Red Bull private jets. There’s an arrest warrant in his name by the Interpol but the police can’t seem able to catch him. This, despite the fact that he keeps getting tagged on social media, while attending fancy reunions, exclusive parties and racing events.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, aka the Red Bull "Boss," killed a police officer in 2012 with his Ferrari FF
Photo: Facebook / Vorayuth Yoovidhya
The biggest catch of the story is that, shortly after the accident, the Yoovidhya family played nice with the victim’s family. They even offered a payout of some $100,000 and asked, in exchange, for a signature on a piece of paper that bars them from taking the Yoovidhyas to court in case criminal charges are not pressed by prosecutors. With the charges formally dropped by OAG (for now), there is absolutely no way to hold him accountable for anything.

In other words, “Boss” is a free man. Ironically, he still drives: an older AP investigation found that, at least when he is in London, which he calls his second home, having been educated there, he drives a black Porsche Carrera. The tags read “B055 RBR.”

“Boss” for life.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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