Phuket —
A viral social media post showing a motorbike dangerously overloaded with seven passengers—including children—riding through the Samkong Underpass has sparked public outcry and prompted swift action from local authorities.
The footage, which drew widespread criticism, showed all passengers riding without helmets, raising serious safety concerns. The incident occurred when Mr. Ko (last name withheld), a Myanmar national, reportedly picked up his friend’s wife and children after a friend was stopped by police during a document check.
This resulted in Mr. Ko carrying a total of seven people on a single motorbike—himself, his own family of four, plus three additional individuals—all squeezed together in precarious fashion. He later told authorities he drove through the underpass to avoid traffic delays and reach home quickly.
On the morning of July 8, Colonel Chatree Chukaew, Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, and traffic officer Police Captain Pawina Chumrit summoned Mr. Ko to formally acknowledge several charges.
