Man Survives Ambush and Canal Crash After Late‑Night Trap
A late‑night meeting arranged by a woman turned into a terrifying life‑and‑death escape for a 27‑year‑old man in Ayutthaya, ending with his car plunging into a canal after being chased and shot at by unknown assailants.
The incident occurred at around 2 a.m. on August 6. Police Lieutenant Sawak Srikaew, deputy inspector of Bang Sai Police Station, received a report that a vehicle had been fired upon and had crashed into an irrigation canal along Highway 9, inbound towards Bang Pa‑in and Bang Bua Thong, in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province.
When officers and rescue teams arrived, they found a black Honda sedan almost completely submerged in the 2‑metre‑deep canal, with only its roof visible above the water. Thankfully, the driver had already escaped with the help of a local fisherman, who used a rock to smash a window and pull him out.
The driver, identified as Jakkrit, suffered only minor cuts from broken glass but was visibly shaken. Speaking to police, he explained that he had met a woman named Tawan just two days earlier and had only seen her once before. She had contacted him to arrange a late‑night pickup in Sam Khok district, Pathum Thani province — an area bordering Bang Sai district.
Jakkrit said that upon arrival at the meeting spot, Tawan tried to persuade him to drive into a deserted field. Feeling uneasy, he refused and turned his car back towards the main road. Moments later, his path was blocked by two vehicles — a grey Honda Jazz carrying three men and a white sedan — cutting off any chance of retreat.
Realizing he was in danger, Jakkrit sped away, heading along Road 347 towards Bang Pa‑in, then merging onto Highway 9 in the direction of Bang Bua Thong. During the high‑speed pursuit, he heard three distinct gunshots. One appeared to strike near the car, forcing him to swerve repeatedly to maintain control.
The chase covered approximately 20 kilometres before disaster struck. Losing control, Jakkrit’s car skidded off the road and plunged into the irrigation canal. Trapped inside with water quickly rising, he struggled to open the doors. Luckily, a fisherman in the area spotted the crash, broke a window with a rock, and pulled him to safety.
According to Jakkrit, the attackers briefly parked nearby after the crash, perhaps assuming he had drowned, before driving away. He believes Tawan acted as a lure to lead him into the ambush, speculating that the motive may have been jealousy or a romantic dispute involving one of the assailants.
Police are now treating the case as an attempted murder and are urgently working to track down the suspects. Investigators have taken Jakkrit’s statement in detail, including descriptions of the grey Honda Jazz and white sedan involved. Officers also plan to review CCTV footage from along the escape route to identify the vehicles and their occupants.
“This was a targeted attack, not a random incident,” one officer said. “We will follow every lead to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The dramatic case has drawn attention in Ayutthaya and neighbouring Pathum Thani, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers of late‑night meetings with unfamiliar acquaintances. While Jakkrit escaped with his life, police warn that such traps can easily turn deadly.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information on Tawan or the vehicles described to come forward immediately.
