A clip shows the moment near the Thao Thep Kasattri Monument in Phuket when a pickup truck brushed against a traffic police officer, causing him to fall completely. The vehicle did not stop to help. Recently, the foreign driver met with authorities and claimed he was unaware he had hit the officer.
The incident became widely discussed online after a video was released showing a pickup truck speeding into a barrier before grazing a traffic police officer from Thalang Police Station who was directing traffic near the Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon Monument (Ya Muk and Ya Jan) on Thep Kasattri Road outbound, Sri Sunthon Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket. The officer fell to the ground, and the pickup truck did not stop or check on the officer, prompting extensive public criticism.
Later, Pol. Col. Nikorn Chuthong, Chief of Thalang Police Station, received a report from Pol. Lt. Col. Kraisorn Boonprasop, Investigation Superintendent, about the incident involving a pickup truck hitting a traffic police officer. The injured officer was identified as Police Corporal Chalermchai Sothong, 52, a traffic unit supervisor at Thalang Police Station. He sustained minor injuries. The incident occurred at 07:30 on 18 March 2026.
Reviewing CCTV footage revealed a white Ford pickup truck with Bangkok license plates, owned by Mrs. Pornpis. Phone records and inquiries with Mrs. Pornpis indicated that the driver was Mr. Tey Wee Keong Jonathan, a Singaporean and her son-in-law.
Mr. Tey Wee Keong Jonathan later brought the pickup truck to meet investigators at Thalang Police Station. In initial questioning, he stated he was driving from Kathu Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket, returning home to Saku Subdistrict, Thalang District, and was unaware his vehicle had grazed the police officer.
He said he learned of the incident from Mrs. Pornpis, the mother of his wife, who informed him. He then promptly went to report to the Thalang police. The investigators filed a traffic complaint charging him with driving in a manner causing damage to persons or property, failing to stop to help, not notifying authorities, and fleeing the scene.
Authorities sent the injured Corporal Chalermchai Sothong for a medical examination at Bangkok Phuket Hospital. Mr. Tey Wee Keong Jonathan was also sent for drug and alcohol testing at Thalang Hospital; results are pending. The pickup truck has been seized as evidence.
The vehicle owner was summoned to give witness testimony to confirm the driver and the offense. Authorities are awaiting the injured officer's medical report and the suspect's drug and alcohol test results to proceed with legal action accordingly.