A Pattaya baht bus driver was fined 1,000 baht for slamming on the brakes, injuring a Russian tourist, leading to a bogus claim that almost cost the driver his license.
Chayapat Rithbamrung, 41, became the latest object of scorn on the Thai interwebs after a Family Mart clerk told police he ejected a bleeding Vera Ivanova, 26, from his truck after she bashed her head on a roof support Nov. 28.
In fact, he didn’t. Both Ivanova and Chayapat confirmed the Russian got off the baht bus of her own accord after being injured. And she didn’t pay. Police warned Sakda Kulamart, 19, not to spread false stories and suggested to Chayapat that the driver could sue the clerk for defamation.
The tempest in a teapot erupted around 3:30 a.m. when Ivanova and a friend hopped on a baht bus at the Pattaya Bus Station to go to their hotel. Chayapat said he was about to enter a Thappraya Road intersection when a motorist ran the red light. He braked to avoid an accident and Ivanova banged her head on the metal roof strut.
The Russian woman said she and her friend got off the truck to seek medical attention, not bothering to pay the driver anything. Chayapat said he didn’t know the woman was hurt and decided not to chase after the deadbeat customer.
The pair entered the Family Mart where Sakda said a fellow staffer translated for him, blaming him for the story that the driver threw the women off the baht bus to bleed elsewhere.
Police only fined Chayapat for reckless driving causing injury.
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