PATTAYA, THAILAND – A man described as a Bolt driver allegedly attacked a foreign man on Jomtien Beach Road, in an incident that spread rapidly online while police said no formal complaint had been filed.
Video spreads across TikTok and other platforms
Footage of the incident circulated on multiple social networks, including TikTok. One user commented in English,
“Bolt driver, that’s not a nice thing to do.”
said an unnamed social media user.
According to available reports, the altercation was believed to have occurred about two weeks before the video was published. The exact trigger for the conflict remained unconfirmed.
Argument on Jomtien Beach Road escalates
In the video, a Thai man in a floral shirt, described as a Bolt driver, was seen in a verbal dispute with a foreign man in a black shirt. The confrontation took place on Jomtien Beach Road in Pattaya.
As the foreigner turned away, the driver allegedly attacked him from behind, according to the footage. The man fell to the ground, did not hit back, and could be heard in the clip telling the driver to stop.
Bystanders and motorbike taxi driver intervene
A motorbike taxi driver rushed to assist the man who had fallen. A mixed-nationality couple stepped between those involved and appeared to try to clarify what had started the dispute.
The alleged Bolt driver refused to give any explanation, according to the video, and returned to his vehicle. The clip drew heavy criticism online, with many users stressing that physical violence was unacceptable regardless of the underlying cause.
Police confirm no complaint received
The outlet SiamChon reported that Mueang Pattaya Police Station had confirmed that neither the driver nor the foreign man had lodged a complaint. Officers therefore had no formal case file on the incident.
Some social media users called on the authorities to identify the man using the video and to act even without a formal complaint, arguing that the assault was clearly visible in the recording.
Similar incident reported the previous year
A comparable conflict between a foreign tourist and a Bolt driver had already been documented in January of the previous year. At that time, a group of foreign tourists was reported to have attacked a driver on Pattaya Road after he refused to speak with them.
Observers noted that the latest case again highlighted tensions between ride-hailing drivers and passengers in Pattaya. A systematic response from the authorities to such incidents had yet to emerge.
Exact time of incident remains unclear
In the background of the recent footage, a squid festival was visible, which had taken place on 13 and 14 February. It was not clear from the information available whether the incident happened exactly on one of those days or only around that time.
The video itself was posted without a precise date. Police had not issued any official confirmation of when the alleged assault occurred.