Phuket native and resident Thanawut Chankaew was arrested near the Thai Mueang Municipal Market in Phang Nga just before noon today (Jan 6) after crashing a tour bus into a power pole.
The collision resulted in a fire that took firefighters an hour to extinguish. The fire completely destroyed the vehicle.
According to preliminary investigation, Mr Thanawut took the bus from a Phuket-based company he works for. He then drove from the island to Phang Nga province.
On his way to the mainland, Mr Thanawut ran through a Phuket Checkpoint in a manner described in media reports as reminiscent of being "drunk, high on drugs, or having stolen the vehicle."
The police gave chase but arrested Mr Thanawut only after he crashed the bus into a power pole near the Thai Mueang Municipal Market, approximately 26km away from the Phuket Checkpoint.
Mr Thanawut was then tested for drugs, and the results came back positive. The man now faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence.
The manager of the company that owns the bus and employs the suspect confirmed that the man took the bus without permission, effectively making the vehicle a stolen one.