19-year-old apologises but maintains that woman’s car had struck his bike first
A 19-year-old motorcyclist who smashed a car windscreen and punched a 27-year-old woman in the face during a road rage incident at the Lat Phrao intersection in Bangkok has been remanded in custody.
Investigators from the Phahon Yothin police station took Natthanon, 19, to the North Bangkok District Court on Saturday to answer charges of assault, causing property damage and drug use. Police opposed his release on bail.
When asked about his motive for the attack, he refused to answer. He apologised for what had happened and acknowledged that he had done wrong.
However, he claimed the woman had hit his motorcycle first. He said that when she got out of her car and raised her hands in a traditional Thai gesture of apology, he claimed he did not realise she was a woman and had not noticed the gesture before attacking her.
He denied having committed similar violent acts in the Bang Pho police station’s jurisdiction. He also declined to answer questions about alleged drug use.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old victim said she had learned that the suspect had been taken to the Phahon Yothin station for questioning on Friday night.
She thanked the media, social media users and police for helping to secure the suspect’s swift arrest.
Responding to the suspect’s claim that he did not know a woman was inside the car, she said this was impossible, as she had opened the door and raised her hands to apologise to him before he assaulted her.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening at the Lat Phrao intersection, where the woman said she briefly sounded her horn to warn the motorcyclist after he attempted to brake suddenly and make a U-turn after passing the designated turning point.
According to her account, the motorcyclist later caught up with her vehicle in heavy traffic, shouted abuse, struck the driver’s side window and climbed onto the bonnet before repeatedly stomping on the windscreen until it shattered.
Fearing for her safety and receiving no assistance from bystanders, she eventually left the vehicle in an attempt to calm the situation.
Despite apologising again with a wai, she said the man punched her in the face, striking her left eye socket and causing injury before walking away from the scene.
She subsequently filed a complaint with the Phahon Yothin police station and the suspect was arrested on Friday night.