Crazed British tourist steals minivan before crashing in Phuket

A drunk British tourist allegedly attacked locals before stealing a minivan and crashing.

The holidaymaker, who was too inebriated to give his details, is said to have punched a Burmese worker before being taken to hospital and discharging himself.

However, he the allegedly carjacked a tour guide's minibus before speeding along narrow roads and crashing into another vehicle in Phuket, Thailand, on Saturday night, July 6.

Police Captain Pongpipat Khamchomphu of Patong district police station said officers received a report of an accident involving two vans on Phrabaramee Road at 8.19 PM.

At the scene, the rescue team removed the injured foreign tourist from the white Toyota van and took him to Patong Hospital.

They also discovered Sompong Ruengchan, the driver of a black Hyundai van, with an injured leg.

The policeman said: 'We eased the traffic no the road before questioning the tourist and contacting the British embassy.

'He was too inebriated to give his name and he did not have a passport with him. All we could find out was his nationality. He was taken to the hospital and the next day moved to the police station.'

The van owner Tiva Santichartsak said that he had parked his vehicle in front of a gas station to buy durian, leaving the engine running.

However, the holidaymaker then allegedly climbed into his van and headed toward Patong Beach.

Tiva said: 'I followed the van on a motorcycle and witnessed the van crashing into another van, causing damage to both vehicles and a traffic jam on both lanes.

'This is my livelihood so I can't work while my van is damaged.'

Chalermpong Saengdee, an MP in Phuket, said that that before the incident, the Brit went on a rampage and punched a worker from neighbouring Myanmar. He was arrested and taken to the hospital.

However, he managed to escape, stole the van, and subsequently had an accident.

The alleged victim, Preecha Wannasut, 42, said that he was driving on the road when the white van followed him from behind before crashing into the black van.

Preecha mentioned that his car was caught between the two vans, causing damage to his rear lamp and bumper from the white van's opened door and window shards.

He was transporting a family of three Chinese tourists to the Patong area. Fortunately, none of his passengers were injured, but he still wanted the suspect to take responsibility for the damage.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai Siri of Tourist Police Division 3 said today hat the suspect was a British man who spoke confusingly.

He stated that the suspect had been discharged from Patong Hospital and was now in the custody of Patong Police Station.

Police Colonel Chalermchai Hernsawad, superintendent of Patong station, added: 'Officers are coordinating the case since the theft occurred in Kathu's jurisdiction but the accident happened in Patong's jurisdiction.

'We are considering transferring all cases to Patong station and plan to press charges for reckless driving causing injury.

'Nobody knows the suspect's name, only that he is of British nationality.'

The officer said he considered the British man solely responsible for the incident, and that the civil damages for the four damaged vehicles would be negotiated later.