UPDATE: Tour Boat Driver Tests Positive For Methamphetamine After 35 People, Mostly Foreign Tourists, Were Injured in Boat Collision in Phuket

Chalong –

A boat driver has tested positive with methamphetamine after 35 people including foreign tourists were injured after a tour boat crashed into a pillar in Chalong, Phuket.

Our previous stories:

Emergency responders were notified of the accident on Wednesday (May 17th) near Chalong Pier with many injuries. More than a dozen ambulances from the nearby area arrived at the Chalong Pier.

In total, 35 people have been injured which included Russians, Ukrainian, Kazakhstani, Hong Kong nationals, Chinese, and Thais after a tour boat crashed into a pillar in Chalong, Phuket.

A boat captain has been charged with reckless behavior causing injuries.

Now for the update:

The Phuket Provincial Police Commander Major General Sermphan Sirikong told the Phuket Express on Monday (May 22nd) that the tour boat driver in question is named Mr. Sathit Mardchai, 29. He conducted a standard blood test for alcohol and drugs at the request of authorities following the accident.

No alcohol was found in his blood tests but methamphetamine was found.

Police are continuing their investigation to place more charges on him as victims continue to recover in local hospitals and are given visa extensions by Phuket Immigration.

The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The Phuket Express, owned by our parent company TPN media.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for more than four years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.