In response to a video of the incident posted online, Phuket Provincial Police last night (Sept 17) explained that both parties to the incident had presented themselves at Wichit Police Station yesterday to apologise to each other.
The driver of the taxi, a white Pajero Sport registered in Bangkok, Teerapat Phuob, 38, originally from Kalasin, reported the incident to Wichit Police at 10:33pm Saturday night. Pol Lt Surachart Thongyai received the complaint.
The altercation occurred just minutes earlier, at about 10:17pm, Mr Teerapat told police. He had two French tourists in his taxi, who he had picked up at the Naka Weekend Market. He was on his way to drop them off at Marin Plaza in Patong.
As he was approaching the entrance to the Darasamut Underpass, he needed the left lane so he could turn left at the intersection and continue his journey to Patong.
He saw two cars in the left lane, but needed to get into the left lane himself, and was running out of space, so he moved across in front of one of the cars, a Mercedes-Benz.
Mr Teerapat explained that he did not have time to signal his intention to suddenly change lanes, but said he flashed his hazard lights to say ‘thank you’ to the car behind.
Mr Teerapat made it only as far as in front of Wichit Songkhram School when the Mercedes-Benz he had cut across collided into the taxi, then pulled in front of the taxi and came to an abrupt stop.
As seen in the footage recorded on the taxi dash cam, which was later posted online, the driver of the Mercedes-Benz, later identified as Weerayut Srimuang, exited his car and walked up to the taxi and began verbally abusing Mr Teerapat for dangerously cutting across him just moments earlier.
Weerayut’s angry tirade was explicit and repeatedly used very rude words. Weerayut also repeatedly asked Teerapat if he “wanted to see a gun”.
Teerapat himself repeatedly apologised for his driving, and pointed out that he had flashed his lights to say ‘thank you’. Weerayut said he did not see that.
Dissatisfied with his discourse with Teerapat, Weerayut then punched Teerapat in the face three times then stormed off, prompting Teerapat to immediately report the incident to police.
Teerapat and Weerayuth met at Wichit Police Station about 3pm yesterday to apologise to each other in front of the press for their parts in the incident.
Mr Teerapat said he was shocked “because this had never happened before”. The tourists in the taxi were also shocked, he said.
He added that he didn’t want to have “trouble with his work here”, but said that he had to protect himself and that he has a family that he is responsible for and has to earn a living.
“Even though I’m not a real Phuket person, I’ve been here for about 20 years,” he said.
Weerayut apologised his actions, including punching Teerapat in the face, and explained the incident as a result of his short temper.
Regardless, Wichit Police Deputy Chief Pol Lt Col Surachart Thongyai confirmed that Weerayut now faced charges of assault, drunk driving and using threats to intimidate and cause fear among others.
Negotiations are still underway to determine what damages are to be paid to repair Mr Teerapat’s taxi. Mr Teerapat has filed a claim for damages of B100,000, which includes the income lost while the taxi is off the road undergoing repairs.