An Australian man has been arrested after crashing into a police checkpoint in Phuket and injuring a police officer before fleeing the scene in the early hours of 22 June 2026.

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Police said they were notified of the crash at 01:05 at the Naka police checkpoint in Kamala subdistrict, Kathu district. The collision resulted in injuries to a police officer who was on duty at the time.

According to investigators, officers from Kamala Police Station were preparing equipment for a checkpoint operation when a white Toyota Yaris Ativ approached from Kamala towards Patong.

Police allege that the vehicle struck a checkpoint sign at high speed, sending it flying across the road and causing damage. Pol. Lance Cpl. Anuchit Chaocharoen was standing behind the sign while carrying out his duties and suffered injuries in the collision.

Following the crash, the driver allegedly left the scene. Police immediately launched a search operation to locate the vehicle and driver. Officers later intercepted the car in Patong and arrested the driver, identified as Australian national Petratos Kosta.

He was subsequently taken to Kamala Police Station for legal proceedings. The injured officer received assistance following the incident. Police have not yet released further details regarding the extent of his injuries, but are believed not to be serious.

The case has drawn attention to the risks faced by officers working at roadside checkpoints, particularly during late-night operations when visibility and traffic conditions can present additional challenges.

Authorities have confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing. Officers are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash and are gathering additional evidence to determine the events leading up to the incident, with legal action to follow.

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 22 June 2026

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Well, it seems the convict has been locked up again.

10K Baht fine and have to watch a video of Thai driving skills during Songkron. The fine won't phase him much, but the video will scare him straight.

Hope the officer recovers quickly

Disgraceful behavior leaving the scene of an accident.

15 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

late-night operations when visibility and traffic conditions can present additional challenges.

How about police meet those challenges with flood lights and a removable concrete barrier police can stand behind, assure a buddy system when checkpoint runs very late at night.

Good job the cop wasn’t standing further to his right, he would have been toast.

No mention of drugs or drink, but you have to think one or the other was involved.

Ban him life time to enter Thailand.

Good example for riffraff and low class tourist

15 hours ago, Jone500 said:

Well, it seems the convict has been locked up again.

From his name it's much more likely he was an immigrant from Greece rather than a deported English convict.

Absolute degenearate moron. No respect for the safery of others and a danger to society. Hit and run, takes no personal responsibility. This person needs to be jailed and his driver's taken away for life. It's no longer a question of "if" he will run someone over, it's now a matter of "when".

16 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Ban him life time to enter Thailand.

Good example for riffraff and low class tourist

He might not be a tourist. Could just as easily be here on a work permit or retirement visa.

Leaving the scene of an accident

At a police checkpoint.

I’m guessing this fellow is not a Mensa candidate.

4 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

He might not be a tourist. Could just as easily be here on a work permit or retirement visa.

Makes no difference. Out with him

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Makes no difference. Out with him

Or in with him. Prison exists for a purpose.

Petratos Costa? A good old Ozzy name. Bubble and squeak extraction?😆

10 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Petratos Costa? A good old Ozzy name. Bubble and squeak extraction?😆

What's a good old Ozzy name? Does it even exist?
Similar to the USA, the people there come from old England, Italy, from whole Europe, as with this candidate, from Greece. So it's a good old Ozzy name after all, as well as it could be Gandtee.

this is thailand, he could have thought it was a fake scammer checkpoint, lol

15 hours ago, Jone500 said:

Well, it seems the convict has been locked up again.

Being an Aussie myself I say that this loser is of Greek origin.

24 minutes ago, Rams86 said:

Being an Aussie myself I say that this loser is of Greek origin.

For all we know, he may have been born and raised in Australia and is a product of Australian society like anyone else. Judging someone based on their name, ethnicity, or family background rather than their actions is completely irrelevant to the issue.

The amount of racism in some of these comments is genuinely disturbing.

One presumes this is not the Australian footballer of the same name who plays for Perth Glory...

1 hour ago, Gandtee said:

Petratos Costa? A good old Ozzy name. Bubble and squeak extraction?😆

I met an Australian originally from Greece. He told me that he immigrated in the 1970s when the Aussie Govt. used to pay bounties to Greeks willing to immigrate. Australia must've been desperate to get "white" European immigrants back then.

2 hours ago, Gandtee said:

Petratos Costa? A good old Ozzy name. Bubble and squeak extraction?😆

Are you still mentally living in the stagecoach era without aviation and with minimal education?

16 hours ago, Gknrd said:

10K Baht fine and have to watch a video of Thai driving skills during Songkron. The fine won't phase him much, but the video will scare him straight.

Are his skills and attitude any better or superior?

On several occasions, I have been surprised and had to brake hard when a police officer jumps out into a main road directly into the path of my motorbike as part of a checkpoint.

They are often poorly signposted or not at all.

They are always placed on sections of straight road.

They always feature officers wandering through various lanes of traffic.

Whilst the Australian driver here was a reckless idiot, the police significantly increase their risk of being hurt by the ludicrous design of these checkpoints. (And to be honest this looks like one of the better ones).

1 hour ago, Danny Australia said:

For all we know, he may have been born and raised in Australia and is a product of Australian society like anyone else. Judging someone based on their name, ethnicity, or family background rather than their actions is completely irrelevant to the issue.

The amount of racism in some of these comments is genuinely disturbing.

Absolutely agree. "We" all think we are the perfect speciman!

About 15 years back I was done for being over the alcohol limit at the same checkpoint. It costs 15000 Bht. to walk away. Taking inflation into consideration, I can't blame him for running the check?

54 minutes ago, Iron Tongue said:

I met an Australian originally from Greece. He told me that he immigrated in the 1970s when the Aussie Govt. used to pay bounties to Greeks willing to immigrate. Australia must've been desperate to get "white" European immigrants back then.

Does this surprise anyone?

1 minute ago, Frankie baby said:

About 15 years back I was done for being over the alcohol limit at the same checkpoint. It costs 15000 Bht. to walk away. Taking inflation into consideration, I can't blame him for running the check?

So... again its the fault of Thailand and the aussie is squeaky clean?

Some laundries clean dirty cloths so well!

1 hour ago, Danny Australia said:

For all we know, he may have been born and raised in Australia and is a product of Australian society like anyone else. Judging someone based on their name, ethnicity, or family background rather than their actions is completely irrelevant to the issue.

The amount of racism in some of these comments is genuinely disturbing.

Most probably, he was born and raised in Oz. It amazes me that people today get their knickers in a twist about a 'Disturbing' remark, guessing a person's lineage. The immediate scream of racism is heard. Do the Poms in Oz get upset about their title?

.

In future, any Aussie getting into trouble here should give their name as Bruce Vegemite to keep the race watchers happy.

Though, I can just imagine the negative comments should they actually have a true Australian name, such as Jiemba Goolagong.

Police assault will fast track you out of Thailand. Dude must have been drunk or on drugs as it's gonna "Kosta" him a lot...