‘Gun’ was Just a Box, Angry Bangkok Minivan Driver Protests

[Jonathan Fairfield]

‘Gun’ was Just a Box, Angry Driver Protests

BANGKOK — A public van driver insisted today he was pointing a small box at another motorist – not a gun – in a video widely seen since it was uploaded yesterday.

Prachop Tekrathok, 40, told police today he was the man seen in the “armed van driver” video uploaded to Facebook, but denied having a firearm in the vehicle. A colleague also in the van threatened today to file a libel suit against whoever uploaded the video.

In the clip posted by Facebook user “Kittipol Na Ubon,” the driver of a Bangkok-Sattahip van opens his window and leans out, appearing to point a gun at the person filming. The scene is quite dark, however.

The video was later widely shared and criticized, with many bloggers reposting it with a similar description.

But Prachop said he was not carrying a gun. He said the incident took place Tuesday evening on a road north of Bangkok in Pathum Thani province. Prachop said he wasn’t actually driving at the time, but seated behind another colleague behind the wheel, Somkuan Worasith.

Read more: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445001256&typecate=06&section=

-- Khaosod English 2015-10-17

[Bluespunk]

Yeah, right. A "box".....

However if it was, why was he leaning out the window waving a "box"?

Edited October 17, 2015 by Bluespunk

[Somtamnication]

He was asking the other car driver if he had a video player, 'cause the dvd player was broken.

[NongKhaiKid]

A box intended to be taken as a gun then ?

It was dark and given the situation with firearms here can anyone be blamed for jumping to conclusions, that's providing it really was a box.

[kartman]

So he drives from the second row safer he slams into the back of a lorry

[noitom]

A Thai threatening another Thai with a dvd box. intended to appear as a gun.

[Seastallion]

Pretending to aim a gun at motorists is downright dangerous and foolish....and also an offense in many countries.

Try walking into a bank with your hand suggestively under your coat....or even just saying, "I've got a gun" in a threatening manner.

The fool should be arrested.

[Thian]

So if a driver cuts you of then it's ok to throw a box to him/her?

Minivan drivers cut people of ALL THE TIME ! They are the most rude drivers of all.

[ToddinChonburi]

Stupid Thai !!!! He is lucky the people in the car did not have a gun and start firing at him.

[alfalfa19]

Yeah, right. A "box".....

However if it was, why was he leaning out the window waving a "box"?

My thought exactly.

[z42]

Should have had his seatbelt on.............. Oh and who waves a box in anger??? This attempt at face saving is pretty bloody bad considering he had days to think of something. A generous 1/10

[ldiablo]

The police should be able to clear up the video enough to determine whether or not it was a gun or a box.

Oh I forgot we are in Thailand.

[fruitman]

The police should be able to clear up the video enough to determine whether or not it was a gun or a box.

Oh I forgot we are in Thailand.

Those van-drivers are big friends with the police. That's why they can just park on the road causing traffic jam to pickup Somjing the cleaner from the mall.

[whatproblem]

And he speeded up to get in front of the car to wave a box at him ,glad I not in the mini bus

[SOTIRIOS]

...the box would be obstructing his face...

...and the angle at which he is holding the gun is obvious....

...you can even see the end of the barrel as a round, shiny point....

...definitely not a box....

...let him sue...but he should be arrested first....

...these sick scum have all kinds of sick excuses and 'explanations' in their sick minds....and it is rampant....

[terminatorchiangmai]

Maybe he should try to point a box at night at a police officer.

[fruitman]

So for throwing boxes onto driving cars you don't get any punishment?

[mike324]

The Van driver said it was the other car that repeatedly cut him off, I suspect it was the van who cut the driver off first as is with most cases. Hence the other car started to provoke the van. Either way both drivers are no good, typical Thai driving mentality nowadays.

[scorecard]

Surely the original / real photo should be with the headline.

But the photo with the headline seems to be a re-enactment, misleading.

[gandalf12]

Just enlarged the photo and it definitely looks like a gun not a box

[Lupatria]

I would have believed him if he would have said it was a bible...

Btw. How many drivers got shot this year in LOS for honking the horn?

[mojorison]

Boxes don't kill people. It's the people with boxes who kill people.

[mojorison]

Surely a well regulated mini van cartel has the right to bear boxes?

[Hawk]

Looks like a loaded pointing finger.

[JAG]

As Charlton Heston might have said," You will only take my boxes from my cold dead hands."

If every driver in Thailand carried a box, this sort of thing would never happen.

Edited October 17, 2015 by JAG

[mojorison]

As Charlton Heston might have said," You will only take my boxes from my cold dead hands."

If every driver in Thailand carried a box, this sort of thing would never happen.

Heston. I forget, was he president of the NRA, or the NBA?

[NCC1701A]

he is lucky the other driver did not use his "box".

what caliber "box" you guys packin'?

was it a semi auto "box"?

this guy is thinking outside the "box".

ok. Enough.

[NickJ]

Wait a month then pull him over and search him then..........

[Alwyn]

and this is a professional driver..... jeez..

[ratcatcher]

So he drives from the second row safer he slams into the back of a lorry

"Prachop said he wasn’t actually driving at the time, but seated behind another colleague behind the wheel, Somkuan Worasith."

There, that should clear up your confusion. Now back to the boxing match.