Bus bursts into flames after bus-napping and crazed chase through Phang Nga

A Phuket man is facing multiple charges after stealing a bus from his employer and crashing it while high on drugs. Thanawut Chankaew was arrested on Saturday morning, January 6, after crashing the bus into a concrete power pole in Thai Mueang township in Phang Nga, causing it to burst into flames.

According to a Phuket News report, Thanawut, a bus driver, took the vehicle from the company he works for. He then drove it off the island to neighbouring Phang Nga province.

After seeing him drive through the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint in what was described as a manner that suggested “being drunk, high on drugs, or having stolen the vehicle”, police gave chase.

Thanawut was finally arrested some 26 kilometres later after he crashed the bus into a power pole near Phang Nga’s Thai Mueang market, where it burst into flames. It took firefighters over an hour to extinguish the blaze, which completely destroyed the vehicle.

Tests on Thanawut came back positive for drugs and he now faces several charges, including stealing a vehicle and driving under the influence of narcotics.

SOURCE: The Phuket News