Drunk taxi driver flees after crashing over 10 motorcycles, 3 injured
A drunk taxi driver remains at large after crashing into more than 10 motorcycles on a road in the western province of Phetchaburi, resulting in three serious injuries.
Officers from Mueang Phetchaburi Police Station identified the taxi driver involved in the accident as 58 year old Chainuluck Wateperm. He was driving a green taxi with a black bonnet, bearing the registration number 9 กด 9775, on the day of the incident, Monday, December 16.
CCTV footage shared by Channel 7 and Channel 8 showed Chainuluck driving the car at high speed through the Arun Pradit Intersection, where he hit a motorcycle with such force that a woman was thrown onto the road.
Chainuluck did not stop to check on the victim but sped away from the scene. Reports indicate that he subsequently crashed into more than 10 motorcycles further ahead. A total of three victims sustained serious injuries in the accident.
A sedan driver who witnessed the incident attempted to chase after Chainuluck but was unable to catch him. The taxi was last seen heading towards Bangkok on Phetchaburi Road.
Police were unable to contact Chainuluck directly and instead reached out to his daughter. She claimed that she was also unable to reach him and speculated that he might go to his workplace in the central province of Nakhon Pathom following the incident.
According to the daughter, Chainuluck worked as a taxi driver in Bangkok but travelled to his home province of Phetchaburi to renew his driving licence.
While in Phetchaburi, he reunited with friends and family and attended an alcohol-fuelled party before returning to Bangkok.
The accident reportedly occurred at about 7pm on Monday while Chainuluck was on his way back to work in the city.
Police stated that they will issue an arrest warrant for Chainuluck if he fails to turn himself in.
In a related incident in September, a Thai woman died in a collision between her motorcycle and an airport taxi in Phuket. The taxi driver claimed he was unaware of how the accident occurred and only realised what happened afterwards. He reportedly tested negative for alcohol.
In a similar case in July, a drunk taxi driver crashed into four motorcycles in Bangkok, resulting in two injuries. The driver denied drinking alcohol despite alcohol bottles being found in his cab.
