Foreign man escapes hospital, steals van, and crashes in Phuket

A foreign man escaped from a hospital at the weekend, stole a van parked at a petrol station, and crashed it into another vehicle on Khao Patong Road in Phuket.

Officers from Patong Police Station were alerted to an accident on Baramee-Khao Patong Road in the Kathu district of Phuket on Saturday, July 6. Police then requested the Kusoldharm Phuket Rescue Foundation to join the investigation at the scene.

Officers took some time to reach the scene as the accident caused a huge traffic jam on the road. Upon arrival, officers found a white Toyota van which was completely damaged at the front. The foreign man, whose identity and nationality remain undisclosed, was seen sitting in the driver’s seat.

The foreigner was in a state of agitation. He tried to leave the seat but was unable to do so because his right leg was trapped in the damaged vehicle. The rescue team had to use metal-cutting tools to remove the man from the vehicle.

Another car, a black Hyundai, was located nearby. Its front was damaged after being hit by the white van. Luckily, the Thai driver, Sompong Rueangchan, suffered only minor injuries.

The Thai owner of the white van, Thiwa Santichartsak, told Naewna that he parked his vehicle at a petrol station to buy durian and left the engine running. Unexpectedly, the foreign man got into his van and drove it out of the petrol station. Thiwa followed the man in another car until arriving at the accident scene.

Matichon reported that the foreigner had been hospitalised previously following a rampage. However, he subsequently escaped from the hospital and proceeded to commit theft and cause an accident.

There is no information available regarding the legal repercussions of the foreigner’s actions. Thai Rath reported that police officers intend to contact the embassy of the foreigner’s home country to notify them of his behaviour.