Phuket taxi brawl lands Aussie tourists in hospital, custody

PHUKET: A drunken brawl inside a Phuket taxi landed three Australian tourists in hospital with minor injuries late last night.

A fourth Aussie tourist, Todd Taylor, 31, who was blamed for starting the fight, was taken to Thalang Police Station for questioning.

Taxi driver Jaran Chamnankaow told police that he picked up four passengers in Patong at about 10pm, and was asked to take them to a hotel at Mai Khao Beach, at the north end of the island.

But by the time they had reached the Heroines Monument on Thepkrasattri Road, an argument had erupted among the four Aussies and fists had started flying.

Concerned about the wild developments in his cab, Mr Jaran pulled over and got out.

“They didn’t want to stop fighting, so I stopped the car and called the police,” he said.

According to witnesses, the fight continued by the side of the road.

“When we arrived, one of the young men and the two women were sitting and crying by the side of the road,” Capt Suporn Muengkhai of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette.

About 100 meters away was the fourth Aussie, Mr Taylor.

“All of them were drunk and had cuts and bruises from fighting,” Capt Suporn said.

No charges were pressed against any of the Australians, confirmed Capt Suporn.

“Mr Taylor was released from the station once he calmed down,” he said.

The three Aussies who were hospitalized were released soon after receiving treatment.

— Thawit Bilabdullar