NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: A drugged driver with a bus full of passengers led police on a wild 50-kilometre chase before being caught on Saturday.

Police said the Bangkok-Trang bus refused to stop at the roadblock set up on Asia Road 41 in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Tham Phannara district.

During the high-speed chase, the driver tried to prevent police cars from getting around the bus and nearly caused accidents several times.

The chase ended after the bus suddenly stopped and the driver, identified as 34-year-old Somkid Longkao, tried to escape by running into a crowd of people but he was caught eventually.

Police said Mr Somkid had been driving under the influence of drugs, which was confirmed by a urine test.