A foreigner allegedly stole a van that had been left parked with the engine running, and shortly after, the van was involved in a collision with another vehicle.
The accident occurred around 9 pm on Saturday on a road leading to Patong Beach in the Kathu district, according to Pol Lt Pongpipat Khamchompoo, deputy superintendent at Patong.
A van with Songkhla registration plates, driven by a foreigner, collided with another van registered in Phuket. Both drivers sustained minor injuries. The foreigner’s nationality and further details were not disclosed.
Investigators reported that the foreigner had been at a hospital and, upon leaving, found the Songkhla van parked with the engine running and no driver inside. He drove off in the van toward Patong, and the two vans collided on the hill road.
The owner of the stolen van, identified only as Tiva, told police that he had left the keys in the ignition and the engine running when he got out to buy durian from a roadside stall, expecting to return quickly and resume his trip.
Rescue volunteers help a foreigner out of the crashed van he allegedly stole after the driver left it parked with the engine running, on the Kathu-Patong beach road in Phuket on Saturday night. (Photo: Pool via Achadthaya Chuenniran)
