A tense road rage incident unfolded on 23 March at a red-light junction in Kanchanaburi municipality, when a motorcyclist drew a gun on a 63-year-old driver, causing panic among nearby motorists. The confrontation, captured on video and widely shared online, showed the armed man pointing the weapon while both men argued in the middle of traffic. Other road users fled the scene fearing for their safety before police intervened and brought the situation under control.

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The incident occurred at a traffic light intersection in front of the Jong Charoen housing estate. According to reports, the dispute stemmed from a prolonged driving altercation, with both parties allegedly cutting in front of each other over several hundred metres before stopping at the junction. The motorcyclist, wearing a helmet and face mask, then pulled out a firearm and pointed it at the older driver.

Police later identified the man as a forensic officer attached to the Kanchanaburi Provincial Police. He told investigators he believed the older driver had first drawn a weapon to threaten him, prompting him to respond by producing his own firearm. The situation escalated into a heated verbal exchange while both remained at the lights.

However, the accused driver, Mr Sitthichai, 63, denied threatening the officer with a gun. He stated he had only been carrying the registered firearm after visiting his ancestors’ graves and feared leaving it at home would be unsafe. He claimed the weapon had slipped from under his seat during sudden braking, leading to a misunderstanding that he had drawn it intentionally.

Authorities confirmed that while the firearm was legally registered, Mr Sitthichai did not have a permit to carry it in public. As a result, police at Mueang Kanchanaburi Police Station have charged him with carrying a firearm in a public place without reasonable cause. Both men were taken in for questioning following the incident.

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

The case highlights ongoing concerns over road rage incidents and firearm possession in Thailand, particularly when disputes escalate rapidly in public spaces. The viral footage has drawn public attention to the risks posed by confrontations involving weapons on busy roads.

Daily News reported that investigations are continuing, and police are expected to proceed with legal action based on the findings. Further clarification may emerge as authorities review video evidence and witness statements.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 24 Mar 2026

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It could have been much worse...he could have ran naked through the streets of Pattaya.

Two big kids in charge of dangerous weapons!

"[He] feared leaving it (the gun) at home would be unsafe."

WHAT a CROCK!

Strange to see a forensic cop carrying a weapon whilst wearing shorts and flip flops!

1 hour ago, sungod said:

Strange to see a forensic cop carrying a weapon whilst wearing shorts and flip flops!

Unusual, yes, but perfectly reasonable.

several years ago when coming back from Phuket airport I was at a red light behind a sports car, light turned green and the driver just kept talking to someone standing on the traffic island in the middle of the road so I honked my horn, next thing a gun came out of the window and started waving around, apparently thai men use them to show how big their appendages are.

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

. He stated he had only been carrying the registered firearm after visiting his ancestors’ graves and feared leaving it at home would be unsafe. He claimed the weapon had slipped from under his seat during sudden braking, leading to a misunderstanding that he had drawn it intentionally.

How do they keep a straight face while coming up with these stories.

Hmmmmmmmm - so it is the civilians word against the police officers word?

I think we all know who the police investigators are likely to believe

I think the 63 year old civilian will need a few large brown envelopes to get out of this mess

4 hours ago, sungod said:

Strange to see a forensic cop carrying a weapon whilst wearing shorts and flip flops!

Plain clothes?

12 minutes ago, Homburg said:

Plain clothes?

Under cover as my in-laws.

Who dares tell more lies wins.

When they are tooled up they just look for reason to use it, show what Big Men they are......Big Men with nothing between their ears !

Very bad image for tourism and Thailand is not safe for foreigners any more.

1 hour ago, Sigmund said:

Very bad image for tourism and Thailand is not safe for foreigners any more.

Let’s face it, is there anywhere left in the world where being a tourist is truly safe? Caution has been a necessity for travelers everywhere for quite some time now. The truth is, unpredictable events can occur anywhere, at any moment. Incidents like the one mentioned happen daily in Thailand, often more than once. As a foreigner visiting Thailand, the best approach is to steer clear of conflicts involving locals, and you’ll likely avoid trouble.

11 hours ago, sungod said:

Strange to see a forensic cop carrying a weapon whilst wearing shorts and flip flops!

Police and court officials in Thailand carry guns 24/7, it's a requirement of their jobs.

Not exactly Dirty Harry was he?

4 hours ago, Sigmund said:

Very bad image for tourism and Thailand is not safe for foreigners any more.

I hope that was spoken in jest, I think Thailand continues to be one of the safest countries in the world. I never feel threatened here. There are some idiots who act out from time to time but 99.9% of the time it's one Thai acting out with another Thai, and it very rarely ever concerns foreigners, unless it's some idiot fooling around with a ladyboy in Pattaya. That's a whole different story.

I feel infinitely less safe walking the streets of any big city in America, than I do here.

33 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I hope that was spoken in jest, I think Thailand continues to be one of the safest countries in the world. I never feel threatened here. There are some idiots who act out from time to time but 99.9% of the time it's one Thai acting out with another Thai, and it very rarely ever concerns foreigners, unless it's some idiot fooling around with a ladyboy in Pattaya. That's a whole different story.

I feel infinitely less safe walking the streets of any big city in America, than I do here.

Don't agree with you. I got threatened with a shotgun and got broken in twice, got my unit burned down, and have been to Pattaya many times with no problems

42 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Don't agree with you. I got threatened with a shotgun and got broken in twice, got my unit burned down, and have been to Pattaya many times with no problems

Jeez. I hope you understand that you've had some bad luck and that you are the exception to the rule. Certainly hope things improve for you.

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Jeez. I hope you understand that you've had some bad luck and that you are the exception to the rule. Certainly hope things improve for you.

But that does not mean I hate Thailand, I have been married to a Thai for 22 years