Foreign Driver Sparks Outrage After Causing Phuket Intersection Gridlock
Authorities are actively seeking a foreign woman involved in a series of dangerous driving incidents across Phuket, culminating in her abandoning her SUV in a busy intersection and evading law enforcement. The disruptive behavior has drawn widespread condemnation after video evidence surfaced online.
Incident Details Emerge from Viral Social Media Post
A dramatic turn of events unfolded when a Thai motorist captured and shared footage on Facebook, June 21, within the community group “Khap Rot Baep Nee Tong Prachan Phuket,” which translates to “Drivers like this deserve to be exposed.” The accompanying post detailed how a woman, identified as being from Kazakhstan, reportedly kept her vehicle stationary in a central traffic lane for over 20 minutes. Despite the arrival of police attempting to engage her, the driver sped away from the scene.
The video clearly shows a grey SUV obstructing traffic while a police officer attempts communication. The officer was observed using a translation application on his mobile phone to interact with the driver, whose nationality has not been officially confirmed by law enforcement.
Eyewitness Account and Police Response
Reports indicate the incident occurred at approximately 7:10 PM at the Phuket Yacht Haven Intersection on Thep Kasattri Road in the Mai Khao subdistrict of Thalang district. The motorist who recorded the footage recounted his experience, stating he was preparing for a U-turn when he noticed the SUV obstructing traffic. Concerned, he parked his own vehicle nearby and approached the SUV. He found a foreign woman in the driver’s seat engrossed in her mobile phone, appearing unresponsive to his attempts to check on her well-being. He then promptly alerted the Tha Chatchai Police Station.
Upon arrival, police attempted to ascertain the driver’s identity and the reason for her actions. Sources suggest the woman communicated with officers by typing messages and refused to exit her vehicle. In a surprising move, she then drove away from the location while police interaction was ongoing.
Pattern of Erratic Driving Reported
Compounding the situation, several social media users have come forward with claims of observing the same SUV earlier in the day. Allegations suggest the vehicle was seen driving in circles near Ban Mud Dok Khao Intersection on the same road at approximately 5:20 PM. Police have stated their commitment to identifying and locating the driver for questioning and potential legal consequences. As of this report, no further updates on the driver’s identity or any arrests have been released.
