Phuket taxi driver hits foreign man on airport zebra crossing

A Thai taxi driver hit a foreign man on a zebra crossing at Phuket International Airport yesterday leaving the man with serious injuries.

The Phuket Times reported the accident yesterday, October 15.

“An airport taxi with a green registration plate hit a foreign tourist on a zebra crossing at Phuket Airport. The foreigner lost consciousness and had a bloody wound on his mouth.”

The news agency added a picture of the victim in the comments section, showing the foreign man lying unconscious on the ground, still wearing his backpack. A man in a red shirt and an off-duty airport worker were seen providing assistance to the foreign victim.

The condition of the foreign victim was not updated in the report. It was not clear whether the taxi driver was present at the scene after the accident or not.

The report drew criticism of the airport taxi driver, as accidents involving airport taxis with green registration plates have been reported multiple times before. This case seemed more serious as it occurred right on a zebra crossing. Thai netizens commented on the accident.

“It’s inside the airport! How fast was the taxi driver going that he couldn’t stop in time for the pedestrian?”

“Can’t understand why motorists don’t stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings. What are the crossings for?”

“Airport taxis cause trouble everywhere they go. They are selfish and drive without manners.”

“I always avoid airport taxis on the road. I’m scared.”

“This foreign man just arrived in Phuket. He might want to go home after his first step at the airport.”

“More than half of airport taxi drivers are terrible drivers.”

In a related case involving airport taxis in August, a foreign cyclist was hit by an airport taxi while cycling and sustained serious injuries. The taxi driver abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene immediately after the incident. There were no updates on the condition of the foreign victim.

In another incident, a security camera captured footage of an airport taxi intentionally hitting an elderly foreign man walking along Soi Yensabai in the Patong area of Phuket.

The taxi driver approached from behind, and instead of honking or signalling the pedestrian, he hit the man, causing him to collapse to the ground.