Thread: Taxi Allegedly Blocks Ambulance in Patong, Heart Patient Dies

A devastating incident has sparked public outrage after a 77-year-old heart patient passed away in an ambulance due to a taxi driver allegedly failing to yield, delaying urgent medical transport over the past weekend.


A driver of a vehicle behind the incident told the Phuket Express that the incident occurred on the morning on Kamala-Patong Road, near Kalim Beach. According to video footage widely shared online, an emergency vehicle from Patong Hospital was rushing a critically ill patient to the hospital.


Despite flashing lights and sirens, a taxi driver occupying the left lane appeared to refuse to give way. The taxi driver swerved and clipped the emergency vehicle, slowing it down even further. Emergency medics did everything possible, including performing CPR, but they were unable to save the patient.

Witnesses pointed out that the road was narrow, yet even a slight adjustment by the taxi could have allowed the ambulance to pass unimpeded, potentially saving a life.

Taxi Allegedly Blocks Ambulance in Patong, Heart Patient Dies - VIDEO - The Phuket Express

The heartless wanker could have moved.

Local police checked camera footage and called the taxi driver for interrogation. Police then charged the driver with blocking an emergency vehicle and violating a patient’s rights.

I'd like to think the scummy Phuket taxi driver would get a stiff punishment, but I doubt it, the cartel will have a word.

I'm surprised to read of public outrage being sparked by an incident not involving a foreigner.

Originally Posted by cyrille

I'm surprised to read of public outrage being sparked by an incident not involving a foreigner.

Maybe the taxi driver's defence will be that his foreigner passenger told him not to move over.

I have noticed in Korat that people now seem much more willing to pull over for ambulances than they were a decade or so ago. I suspect this isn't for altruistic reasons but purely because most cars now have dashcams fitted and any infractions soon appear on the net.

I think from the West it is ingrained in people to pull over for emergency vehicles, but to play devil's advocate, I have seen an emergency responder, sirens on and lights flashing, work its way through traffic, do a U-turn cutting off three lanes of traffic, and then pull up at a petrol pump.

As usual in Thailand, everything is abused and people grow wary.

Originally Posted by Mendip

I have noticed in Korat that people now seem much more willing to pull over for ambulances

Honestly, around here, I have never seen anyone except me pull over for an emergency vehicle.

^ Yeah, but those bullock cart ambulances don't exactly go very fast.

I Nepal in 2005 when there wwere curfews after King Gyanendra seized power and dismissed the elected government some hisos took to travelling in curfews in ambulences so they could still get about, go partying etc. The locals caught on and ambulences with flashing lights were pulled over by local malitia and searched. If any hiso was fund they got pulled out stripped and beaten or worse. I would add these curfews were serious and enfoced by the army and those in breach could and in some cases were shot. Good times.......

1) Or a customer in the minimart in the pump station had a heart attack....
2) Or the driver had top go for a pee....
3) or the driver urgently needed a green tea ...
you choose.... or is there a 4)....

Originally Posted by Shutree

Honestly, around here, I have never seen anyone except me pull over for an emergency vehicle.

Pretty well the norm here. In fact I can't remember seeing one being blocked except temporarily by one of those people who make even a 5 degree turn like they have a 12-tier cake on the back seat.

Originally Posted by Shutree

Maybe the taxi driver's defence will be that his foreigner passenger told him not to move over.

Or, he might of needed to get to his next fare ( a foreigner) before a tuk tuk Mafia taxi poached him. It's a jungle out there. Dog eat dog, but seems never enough dog to go around? ( no disrespect to mendy and his hounds)

None taken!

Originally Posted by BLD

Or, he might of needed to get to his next fare ( a foreigner) before a tuk tuk Mafia taxi poached him. It's a jungle out there. Dog eat dog, but seems never enough dog to go around? ( no disrespect to mendy and his hounds)

Since the transport cartel in Thailand includes taxis, that's unlikely. More likely he was racing to threaten a Bolt drive he'd heard about.