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! 

[newnative]

On 4/29/2025 at 9:57 AM, dddave said:

When I was recently studying for the Thai Driving license exam, I was surprised to learn that the maximum fine for blocking or not giving way an emergency vehicle was shockingly low, like under B1000

That's the problem--all the fines are way too low and need one or two zeros added on the end--in this case two,   The increased fines would help pay for a crew of traffic police to enforce the traffic laws. 

[dallen52]

Just another thai road law that they don't seem to care about. 

 

Pull over and give way to emergency vehicles 

 

 

If the police actually read the road laws and enforced them, instead of playing games on thier phones,  it would be a safer place for everyone.

[connda]

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

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.

"An incident has unfolded in Phuket after a green-plate taxi obstructed an ambulance from Patong Hospital, maybe resulting in the death of an emergency patient inside the vehicle."  And maybe not.  How long was the ambulance detained.  Was that person already clinically dead?  We'll never know.

However - Thailand insists on NOT enacting extremely stiff penalties for acts like blocking an ambulance.  "Oh hum, oh well - dead person have bad karma."  The taxi driver will invoke "brake failure" or some other excuse, and no one on  this forum will ever know the outcome because there is never any follow-up on these new stories.  It will probably be a small fine and not much else.  Well, unless the taxi driver was a farang, but he's not.  So a slap on the wrist with wet bamii noodles and a 500 THB fine.  Maybe.  Maybe not.

Ya'll do understand that blocking an ambulance is only a 500 THB fine?  So what's the downside?  Not much.

The person died so the taxi driver can be charged with MURDER!"

"Can be" and "will be."

Can be = maybe
Will be = probably not.

But in reality?  You'll never know because none of these types of stories ever have a follow-up article, perhaps unless the person being charged is a farang.  A Thai blocking a ambulance and a patient dying is so "oh hum" that it never is worth a follow-up.  Anyway, we can write this outcome ourselves.

Fine: 500 Thb and a wai and apology to the family of the dead person while attending the dead person's funeral.  Another 1000 THB to pay the monks to chant at the funeral.  Everyone's happy again! 

 

The End

[dddave]

4 hours ago, newnative said:

That's the problem--all the fines are way too low and need one or two zeros added on the end--in this case two,   The increased fines would help pay for a crew of traffic police to enforce the traffic laws. 

My home city of Boston (USA) is a good example. NOBODY used to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.  The fine was like $20. Then, after a couple of needless deaths got the attention of the media, new, stricter crosswalk regulations were passed including a $250 fine.  Every crosswalk got large cones with the $250 fine for not stopping prominently displayed. Word got around quickly that the new rules were being enforced and drivers began to stop.  It actually worked. 

[connda]

On 4/29/2025 at 6:23 AM, dinsdale said:

It happens but is it the norm as your post would seem to imply? Not from what I've seen. What I see is the majority (true not all) try and make room for ambulances with sirens and lights on.

I've seen idiots blocking ambulances but they tend to be the same morons who will get in the right-hand lane and drive there forever with the intention of making a right-hand U-Turn at a U-Turn_Of_Death^TM that is 7 kilometers up the road.  Ya know, of course they can't get over...the plan to make a turn.  Raw bap neung.  Just wait a second.  I'll be turning and will get out of the ambulance's way in 6.48 kilometers.  Raw bap neung!

[connda]

On 4/29/2025 at 6:25 AM, grumpyoldman said:

Lost my best pal this last March when he went into cardiac arrest as the ambulance could not get through Chalong traffic to get to him. His widow said it was 40 minutes before the ambulance got there and he was long gone. 59 years old.........

 

Too many people and vehicles in Phuket these days.

Sounds more like trying to get an ambulance to the NHS.  Then you'd wait 1/2 day, or longer.....

 

[connda]

On 4/29/2025 at 7:24 AM, thesetat said:

When it is your time to go. Somehow something will make so that this happens the way it should. I feel bad for the family of the deceased and disgust for the taxi driver. But this is Thailand and Thai drivers think everyone else should let them drive the way they want. You are supposed to move for them, not the other way around. Sad but true in so many instances. It would be a hard prove that the man's death is to blame for for the taxi getting in the way. But we all know that every minute counts when trying to get to the hospital in an emergency such as this. He should be charged for such a crime relating to the death. 

I tend to agree with you. 
If it's your time to go, the ambulance gets their in a jiffy, and EMS crew has all the necessary equipment to keep you alive...and do, then some Thai drivers runs the red light and T-bones the ambulance.  Everyone but you walks away without a scratch, but the impact caused the leads of the defibrillator to come out of their holders and land on your chest and then administers a shock which kills you.  When it's time for your ticket to get punched.........

[connda]

On 4/29/2025 at 1:17 PM, newbee2022 said:

But what will happen now to the taxi driver? Was it murder? Kind of. He's responsible partly of the death of a person.

500 THB fine. 

[connda]

On 4/29/2025 at 1:18 PM, Photoguy21 said:

What you say is true but why are there not very heavy penalties for obstructing an ambulance, police car or fire engine in Thailand. Even the Middle East countries have strict laws of such things.

This Is Thailand (TIT)  🇹🇭

[connda]

On 4/29/2025 at 3:50 PM, klauskunkel said:

Respect Zebra Crossings Campaign...

You're joking.  How do you measure "success."  People getting mauled in a cross-walk is almost a weekly new item.

[connda]

23 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

Thailand creates a culture. Support this culture.

And then appears offended at the result of this culture.

 

Very simply, laws not enforced are the same as no law at all.

Wrote that before.

This taxi driver will get a slap on the wrist, while complaining that he had a reason....

 

Brake failure Steering wheel failure.

[newbee2022]

5 minutes ago, connda said:

500 THB fine. 

Yes, I think so.

To seize his car for a month would be good alternative. What do you think?

[Magictoad]

Murder

[connda]

23 hours ago, Alexjkr said:

And on another thread "Foreign Lamborghini Driver Sparks Outrage in Phuket Over Reckless Behaviour". Thais are outraged by the behaviour of some foreigners but they don't understand how outraged foreigners are to Thais me me me culture and complete disrespect for emergency vehicles.

As I said previously, had the driver been a foreigner.......(enter outrage and calls for the most severe punishment plus prison and deportation here)

[Magictoad]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

This Is Thailand (TIT)  🇹🇭

They rely on the "decency" of the drivers - this incident was a rare example of when a driver chose not to play the game resulting in the death of a Durian picker. Let's hope the cops charge the driver with murder.

[connda]

22 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Looks to me like the ambulance was doing what ever it could do to get to the hospital.

If he had been "doing what ever" once he had tapped the taxi with his bumper, he should have floored it and pushed past the taxi and take it up with the police later.  In a fair court, the taxi would have been libel for all of the damage for both vehicles. 

[connda]

20 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Cop in Wifes Family told me years ago that they fine someone based on what they think they can afford to pay. as you can't expect a poor person to pay a large fine when they can't afford it !!

True, but if someone can't pay you can petition the court for prison time instead.

[newnative]

2 hours ago, dddave said:

My home city of Boston (USA) is a good example. NOBODY used to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.  The fine was like $20. Then, after a couple of needless deaths got the attention of the media, new, stricter crosswalk regulations were passed including a $250 fine.  Every crosswalk got large cones with the $250 fine for not stopping prominently displayed. Word got around quickly that the new rules were being enforced and drivers began to stop.  It actually worked. 

Yes, hit 'em in the pocketbook.

[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, connda said:

You're joking.

You are perceptive.