Crime Taxi Driver Blocks Ambulance, Leading to Patient’s Death in Patong

[MalcolmB]

2 hours ago, 2long said:

is it possible that the story is somewhat exaggerated? We have a photo, but no video?

Here is the video 2long

 

 

[realfunster]

26 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Here is the video 2long

 

 

Glad they show the crash 20x, so we can really digest it.

 

OK - the taxi was trying to overtake the pick-up truck parking up on left side, silly and inconsiderate.

Ambulance should not be concerned by minor vehicle collision damage to either car and just move on at haste to hospital....in total a potential 15 second delay. The video doesn't show what happens next, I hope not everyone exiting vehicles, calling insurance agents and waiting 30 minutes for them to show up.....

 

On a positive note, in Bangkok at least, over the last decade I have clearly observed much more consideration from road users to allow ambulance to pass through. 

[2long]

35 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Here is the video 2long

 

 

Was that available in the OP?

Sorry if I missed it.

Or did you have to Google it?

[Jimjim1]

16 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Thailand every year, maybe there's a way to discipline drivers into giving way to those trying to save lives

Self centred ignorance is total unreserved bliss

[spidermike007]

8 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Simple solution - charge the taxi driver with manslaughter and send him to prison for a decade.

 

Then maybe, just maybe,m other Thais will learn.

 

But, as we all know, TIT.

A deterrent can often be very effective, word gets around and people start behaving differently, however Thailand doesn't seem to believe in the concept of a deterrent and it has one of the weakest and most compromised police force and judicial systems in the world. 

[MalcolmB]

51 minutes ago, 2long said:

Was that available in the OP?

Sorry if I missed it.

Or did you have to Google it?

Not in the OP.

On the news.

[richard_smith237]

54 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

A deterrent can often be very effective, word gets around and people start behaving differently, however Thailand doesn't seem to believe in the concept of a deterrent and it has one of the weakest and most compromised police force and judicial systems in the world. 

 

Valid point about deterrents...    the levels of apathy within enforcement here in Thailand seems to actively 'enable' many of the issues...  

 

...  Drunk idiots misbehaving in the street - they'd not behave like that in Doha, Dubai, Singapore etc...

Then there are the idiot drunk drivers wouldn't drive like that in the UK or UAE etc...

 

They only behave like this in Thailand because they think they are superior and can get away with it...

 

The same as many issues here in Thailand - Motorcyclists don't bother will helmets, drivers run red lights, others drive recklessly - they know there is very little chance of them being penalised by the law - there is no to little deterrent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

9 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

manslaughter.

Driver  will say that he was not aware , or that he could not move.

Yes, Traffic rules and laws are not taken serious. Violating seems often a minor case 

[NoshowJones]

On 4/29/2025 at 5:02 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

An incident has unfolded in Phuket after a green-plate taxi obstructed an ambulance from Patong Hospital, resulting in the death of an emergency patient inside the vehicle.

 

The event occurred on the morning of 27 April 2025 along the Kamala-Patong Road, located in Kamala Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket Province.

 

According to information from the MCOT Phuket Facebook page, the deceased, identified as Mr Pradit, aged 62, had a history of heart disease. He collapsed while working in a durian orchard in the Kamala community. Relatives promptly contacted Patong Hospital, which dispatched an emergency team at 08:15.

 

 

Upon reaching the scene, the ambulance team quickly placed Mr Pradit into the vehicle and began the journey towards Phuket Town for urgent medical treatment. However, en route, a green-plate taxi allegedly refused to give way, driving slowly along the leftmost lane, thereby preventing the ambulance from gaining speed as the crew continued to administer critical cardiac resuscitation.

 

Despite the medical team’s efforts to revive him, Mr Pradit was pronounced dead at approximately 08:45.

 

Eyewitnesses reported that the ambulance had its sirens fully activated, but the taxi driver failed to move aside. “The road was narrow, but if the taxi had just pulled over for a moment, the patient’s life might have been saved,” one witness said.

 

Patong Hospital, together with officers from Patong Police Station, has since reviewed CCTV footage and summoned the taxi driver for questioning. Initial charges include obstructing an emergency vehicle and violating patient rights, with legal proceedings to follow.

 

Police officials also announced that they are reviewing traffic regulations in the area and plan to launch a campaign urging motorists to yield to emergency vehicles, aiming to prevent such incidents in future.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-04-29.

 

 

 

What about all these speedbumps?? They are just as bad and hold up emergency vehicles in a similar way.

[Sydebolle]

Book the cabbie for manslaughter as he purposely did NOT move; might possibly change the arrogant selfish attitude of Thai drivers behind the steering wheel which, in turn, could save lifes! For once, this is something you will never ever have to book a dirty Farang!