4 days ago
Police chase refuel-and-run truck driver for 100km in southern Thailand
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT - Police and rescue volunteers gave chase to a freight truck across six districts of this southern Thai province on Sunday after the driver fled a petrol station without paying for diesel.
Pol Lt Col Narakorn Eadchuay, deputy superintendent of Muang police station, said officers spent nearly three hours pursuing the six-wheel truck, driven by 22-year-old Pansa Nintham, before forcing it to stop in Muang district.
The incident began in Na Bon district, where the driver refuelled and sped off without paying. Local police immediately called for reinforcements from three nearby stations, as well as assistance from rescue volunteers, to intercept the vehicle.
Mr Pansa, a native of Nakhon Si Thammarat, led authorities on a 100-kilometre chase through the districts of Na Bon, Thung Song, Ron Phibun, Phra Phom, Muang, and Prommakhiri. The pursuit ended when one officer fired at the truck's rear tyre to bring it to a halt on a road in Muang district.
According to Pol Lt Col Narakorn, Mr Pansa claimed he experienced memory loss during the refuelling stop and panicked when confronted by police, saying he had no driving licence with him at the time.
He told officers he had been travelling from Bangkok to visit friends in Phra Phom.
The driver was charged with reckless driving. A urine test was administered to check for drug use, but no illegal substances were found and nothing suspicious was discovered in the truck.
