Motorbike taxi driver dies in Phuket police cell

PHUKET: After a collision with a pedestrian, a Phuket motorcycle taxi driver was found dead in his cell at Patong Police Station early Thursday morning.

Chalee Jampa-ngam, 53, was driving along Phra Barami Road in Patong, looking for custumers, around noon on Wednesday. As he drove past the Government Savings Bank he collided with a pedestrian and fell off the motorbike.

Mr Chalee received three stitches for a head wound at Patong Hospital, where staff asked him to stay overnight.

However, Mr Chalee instead reported to Patong Police Station, where he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in injury to another person.

He was put in a holding cell, where he was discovered dead at about 8am the following morning.

Patong Police Superintendent Arayapan Pukbuakao confirmed Mr Chalee’s death this morning and said his family have told police they do not want to pursue an investigation into his death, which they presume to be related to a preexisting medical condition.

Mr Chalee’s body was taken to Patong Hospital for examination.

— Atchaa Khamlo