A Thai driver smuggling undocumented Chinese nationals from the Myanmar border caused a fatal collision in Mae Sot district of Tak province on Tuesday, ramming his pickup truck into a local delivery rider while speeding in reverse along a highway in an attempt to evade police. The driver was arrested.
The chaotic pursuit ended only after officers fired eight shots into the vehicle's tyres at a major intersection.
The incident began on the Asian Highway when a Mae Sot police patrol spotted a suspicious bronze-grey pickup truck with a high cargo bed.
Dashcam footage captured the moment officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, only for the driver to shift into reverse and speed away against oncoming traffic.
CCTV footage from another angle showed the pickup truck crashing head-on into a motorcycle ridden by 35-year-old Wisanu Thongprathuang, a local food delivery rider. Wisanu was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ignoring the fatal collision, the driver continued to flee in reverse for more than five kilometres toward Mae Sot town centre, dropping off Chinese nationals at various points along the route to help them escape.
Mae Sot police called in backup and intercepted the vehicle at traffic lights in front of the Mae Sot City Municipality Office. Officers fired eight rounds into the truck's tyres, successfully bringing the vehicle to a halt.
The driver, identified only as Chai, 31, a member of an ethnic minority group from Tak's Phop Phra district, was arrested at the scene.
One Chinese national was found hiding in the back of the truck. Police later swept the escape route and apprehended three additional Chinese nationals who had been dropped off during the chase.
Pol Col Rang Daodueng, chief of Mae Sot police station, said the four Chinese men have been charged with illegal entry.
Chai faces multiple serious charges, including human smuggling, reckless driving causing death and resisting arrest.
The tragedy has sparked widespread grief and outrage in the Mae Sot community. Wisanu was well known locally for his volunteer work, including participation in charity runs to raise funds for Mae Sot Hospital's psychiatric ward.
He worked as a school bus driver in the mornings and evenings and as a delivery rider during the day to support his family.
Social media was flooded with tributes from local residents. One poignant message read: "You were just smiling at my daughter this morning. Why is the sky so unkind to such a good person?"
The fatal chase also highlights a growing border crisis in the province. According to Tak Immigration data, authorities recorded more than 10 separate cases of illegal entry within a 48-hour period on June 8 and 9.
