Airport-bound foreigners safe after illegal taxi catches fire

[webfact]

Airport-bound foreigners safe after illegal taxi catches fire
Phuket Gazette


The illegal taxi caught on fire while taking passengers to the airport. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A black-plate taxi carrying two foreigners to Phuket International Airport burst into flames on Thepkrasattri road at about 2pm today.

It took villagers about 15 minutes and seven fire extinguishers to put out the fire, explained a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. No one was injured.

“By the time we got there, the fire was already under control. At the scene were two fire extinguishers from the 7-Eleven and four from villagers’ houses,” the rescue worked said.

The car belong to illegal taxi driver Pakawat Kumpairun, 23.

“I was transferring two passengers from a hotel in Kathu to the airport, when the fire started below the hood of my car. However, I didn’t realize there was a problem until another car stopped at the red light of the Koh Kaew Intersection and pointed it out,” Mr Pakawat told the Phuket Gazette.

“We all got out of the car, and that’s when it really started to go up in flames. The villagers quickly came and helped control the fire.”

The two passengers were transferred to the airport by another taxi. Mr Pakawat said he paid the fare for them.

Police were not called to the scene.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Airport-bound-foreigners-safe-after-illegal-taxi-catches-fire-25647.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-02-21

[LivinginKata]

And the 2 pax would have had no idea they were in an illegal taxi. Oh well it worked out Ok for them, no injuries, and on their way with a smile

[Zpete]

And the 2 pax would have had no idea they were in an illegal taxi. Oh well it worked out Ok for them, no injuries, and on their way with a smile

Wonder if the driver owned the illegal taxi.

Likely not so.......

[stevenl]

Why is legal/illegal relevant here?

[LivinginKata]

Why is legal/illegal relevant here?

Makes the news story more 'interesting'

[harrry]

Why did it catch fire....was there anything under the hood?

[sawati]

Wait a minute!I dont see a black plate in there! You mean a Mafia taxi??

[ebk]

I have been in many taxis over here that are not road wordy, I think the Taxi Driver just drive till the car falls apart and can go no further ..

[Crossy]

Wait a minute!I dont see a black plate in there! You mean a Mafia taxi??

It says "5029", a regular car plate.

[Soupdragon]

Why is legal/illegal relevant here?

Because everyone knows that legal taxis are so meticulously maintained that it is impossible for this sort of event to happen

[jayceenik]

Who is paying for the fire extinguishers ?

[SOTIRIOS]

..."police were not called to the scene"......

...that says a lot about their 'clamping down on illegal workers and businesses'.......

...hard to comprehend....

[grumpyoldman]

Question for you guys regarding the LPG tanks, as often I've wondered in the metered legal LPG taxis, if that thing is on fire like this one and gets to the tank, does it explode?

If I'm in that metered taxi and get massively rear-ended (skip the katoey jokes please), would the LPG tank explode?

[HerbalEd]

Note to self: Put bags in back seat of taxi next time.

[NomadJoe]

No no, it's a real taxi, it's just been "de-identified".

[marko kok prong]

only Foriegners,not aliens?

[LivinginKata]

Off topic non Thailand post removed.

[simon43]

No no, it's a real taxi, it's just been "de-identified".

Why didn't they paint over the Honda logo?