A man drove his new CRV on the rail track for over two kilometres, with five passengers, in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district causing delays of almost two hours to train services early Monday.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans legal action against the man and will seek damages of 800 baht per minute, according to a report in Thai Rath.
Traffic radio FM 100 reported at 5.45am Monday that six men, believed to be intoxicated, were seen aboard a brand new Honda CRV travelling on the rail track between Rong Poon intersection to the back of Petcharavej hospital on Phetchaburi Road, where the car had become stuck.
A rescue team with more than 20 men tried to move the car off the track for about two hours, but were unsuccessful. They eventually instructed the driver go backwards along the rails to the spot where he first entered the tracks.
The driver, Korakot Rakwongpat, 24, claimed that he was lost and decided to drive on the track believing there would be an exit. Police tested the man and found an alcohol level of 148 miligrammes percent, which is far higher than the legal limit.
Mr Korakot was charged with drunk driving and causing damage to property.
The incident delayed an empty train due to begin collecting passengers for 107 minutes at Makkasan train station. Other trains were also affected, the SRT said.
SRT governor Prapas Chongsanguan said the SRT willl charge the men and claim compensation of 800 baht per minute for the delay, around 85,600 baht. This is based on the average fares of passengers affected by the delay and the damage to almost 400m of rail track.