A tycoon's grandson has been arrested after allegedly killing a policeman in a hit and run incident in Thailand.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya is the grandson of the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, one of the creators of energy drink Red Bull.

The 27-year-old was arrested on Monday in Bangok following claims he killed policeman Sgt Maj Winchian Klanprasert, 47, while driving his Ferrari.

According to police Yoovidhya dragged the policeman along for 100m, leaving him with a broken neck and broken bones.

thai red bull heri

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, a grandson of late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhaya, is taken by a plain-clothes police officer for investigation


According to reports, police initially turned in a dud suspect, before tracing the wreckage from the incident back to Yoovidhya.

vorayuth yoovidhya

A Thai police officer examines a damaged Ferrari in the garage of a home of Chaleo Yoovidhaya

Bangok's most senior official, Comronwit Toopgrajank, told journalists he was happy to take in the Yoovidhya family, thought to be worth $5.4bn.

"A policeman is dead. I can't let this stand. If I let this case get away, I'd rather quit.

"I don't care how powerful they are. If I can't get the actual man in this case, I will resign."