An American English teacher took police on a fast and furious pursuit through Pattaya, damaging 13 vehicles and injuring two people before police shot out the tires of her Toyota.
Identified only as Samantha, the 29-year-old woman caused 300,000 baht damage with her 30-minute drive against traffic April 5. She was charged with reckless driving and damaging private property and was released on 150,000 baht bail.
Samantha (surname unknown) is finally contained by police after a fast and furious pursuit through Pattaya, damaging 13 vehicles and injuring two people.
The ordeal began when Samantha drove her white Toyota Innova the wrong way on Soi Siam Country Club before turning, again in the wrong lane, onto the railway-parallel road. She then pulled onto Sukhumvit Road and continued to South Pattaya.
The American, employed with a work permit as an English teacher and living in a rental room near Mabprachan Reservoir, has been in Thailand for only two months. The United States drives on the right-hand side of the road.
Samantha, who police said was on medication for mental problems, became distressed after clipping a motorbike on Soi Siam Country Club, then sped away, apparently fearing arrest or mob violence. She barreled through stopped cars at stop lights and hit both moving and parked buses, cars and trucks.
Two people, including 22-year-old Duangkamol Tetsin, sustained minor injuries as people dived and swept away children from the path of the swerving vehicle. Duangkamol sustained a slight leg injury.
Police eventually shot out three of the Toyota’s tires to stop the woman, who then refused to get out of the vehicle. Officers broke a front window to remove her from the car.
Once detained, she had to be whisked away to the Pattaya police station, as an angry mob of damaged-car owners surrounded her. She initially refused to answer any questions from authorities, but relented to questioning after calming down.
