Furious British father 'smashes car window and punches driver' in road rage incident in Thailand

Published date: Thu, 11 Jul 2024 17:19:43 +0700


A furious British father allegedly smashed a driver's car window in a road rage incident in Thailand.
James Edward Green, 45, reportedly bashed his fist through the car window of motorist Somsai Wongsiri, 68, for allegedly cutting in front of his motorcycle along Nittayo Road in Udon Thani province on July 9.
Somsai and his wife Chamnian, 68, apologised but James was said to have punched him in the face before driving away.
The Brit is seen in the video handing over 'compensation' at the police station to settle the case.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Banjong Pakhot of the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station said Somsai filed a report for assault and property damage, with the cops soon tracking down the hot-headed Brit through CCTV footage and interviews with locals.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Rueangyot Phudanu, an investigator with the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, said: 'We have tracked down the foreigner. He paid the other party 15,000 Baht as requested to pay for the car repairs. The victim accepted the money and withdrew the complaint.'
James and Somsai were asked to meet at the police station to discuss the settlement on July 10.
Footage shows Somsai arriving in his red Mazda CX9, the broken window patched up with sheets of plastic wrap and tape.
A remorseful James was seen apologising and shaking the older man's hand before pulling him in for a hug.
Speaking to an interpreter, the British man said he moved to Thailand around 20 years ago, and has a 10-year-old son with his Thai wife.
He explained: 'I picked my son up from school. It was three lanes. I was driving in the left lane, and the car was driving in the middle, and he came across and I have to slam my brakes.
'I nearly had an accident with two bikes, and I've got my son, he's there, and my heart was pounding from adrenaline.
'And then this man just drove off, and then he stopped at the lights.'
He added that he knocked on Somsai's window before punching through it, scolding the Laotian man through the shattered glass.
He continued: 'I'm very sorry for what I've done and I will fix it.
'I admit it, but there's always two sides to every story. I'm not doing wrong if someone else is not doing wrong.
'I do feel very bad about what happened. I'll apologise to him and pay for the damage.'
Meanwhile, Somsai said he was not angry with James, and only sought from him an apology and compensation for car repairs.
He said: 'I did not cut him off, but I heard him honking and cursing at me before he punched the window and my face.
'I did not make the hand gesture that told him to shut up, but only said the word 'sorry'. I am letting this incident go and I forgave him because he was very apologetic.'
James vowed to control his temper to avoid similar situations in the future.
In May, another British national was caught by police for punching a pump attendant in a drunken rampage in the same province.
Anthony Davis, 44, reportedly drank beers with his friends before driving into a PTT fuel station and assaulting staff over a row in Udon Thani province on May 21. He appeared at the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station on May 24 to apologise and pay compensation.
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Details

Udon Thani, Thailand
09/07/2024
Asia Pacific Press
APP144
Duration: 05:01
Rating: News safe
British road rage expat driver motorcycle assault window
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