SURAT THANI – A foreign man believed to be experiencing hallucinations has been arrested on Koh Samui after dragging a driver from his SUV and taking off, forcing the driver to cling to the side of the moving vehicle for 3.5 kilometres, police said on Thursday.
The incident began on Highway 4169, the main road around the southern tourist island, in front of the Isan Krok Yai restaurant in tambon Bo Phut on Thursday morning. Witnesses said the man, about 35 years old and of unknown nationality, ran into the middle of the road and attempted to open the doors of several passing cars.
At one point, he waved down an Isuzu SUV that was being used for airport transfers. When the Thai driver opened his door, the man said something to him, then yanked him out of the driver’s seat and onto the road.
The foreigner then climbed into the vehicle and sped off towards the Bo Phut intersection, while the driver managed to get up and cling to the door as the SUV accelerated away, shocking bystanders.
Police from a nearby public service point pursued on a motorcycle, radioed ahead to colleagues in Bo Phut, and managed to stop the vehicle at the Bo Phut T-junction — about 3.5 kilometres from where the joyride started.
The suspect was taken to the Bo Phut police station but was unable to give a coherent statement. He underwent a medical examination and drug testing prior to charges being filed.
The driver told police that he had been on his way to pick up passengers at the Samui airport when the incident occurred.
“I saw the foreigner standing in the middle of the road waving for me to stop, so I thought the man needed help or wanted to ask something,” the driver said.
“But he spoke incoherently and suddenly yanked me out. I then jumped up and clung onto the vehicle.”
A Mae Nam resident who witnessed the incident said she saw the moment when the foreigner pulled the Isuzu driver out of his seat, and she really wanted to help but did not know what to do.
“Another foreign driver who had stopped to watch also did not dare to intervene because the man appeared to be hallucinating,” she said.
No serious injuries were reported.
Source: Bangkok Post