A grandson of the co-founder of the Red Bull energy drink company has been arrested in Bangkok following a hit-and-run accident that killed a local policeman.
Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 27, an heir to one of Thailand’s wealthiest families, allegedly struck a police officer on motorcycle patrol before dawn on 3 September while driving his Ferrari through a residential neighbourhood in the Thai capital.
His car allegedly dragged the policeman down a Bangkok street for several dozen metres.
According to media reports, police took Yoovidhya for questioning after tracing oil streaks to the family’s gated estate in a wealthy Bangkok neighbourhood. He was later released on bail.
Forbes reckons the Yoovidhya family is the fourth wealthiest in Thailand, with a net worth of $5.4 billion (€4.28 billion). The family owes its wealth to Red Bull creator Chaleo Yoovidhya, who died in March leaving his heirs a 49% stake in the family business as well as interests in hospitals, real estate and sports teams, according to Forbes.
Austria-based Red Bull was founded in 1984 when Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz partnered with Yoovidhya to market globally the energy drink Yoovidhya had created and sold in Thailand.
Red Bull is now sold in 164 countries and had revenues in 2011 of €4.25 billion.