Bangkok - Thailand's traditional New Year celebrations were marred by a road rampage in Bangkok that left two dead and two seriously injured, media reports said on Friday.
Thada Inthamas, 37, a computer repairman with a history of drug abuse and drunk driving, on Thursday stole two cars, killed a policeman and a taxi driver, ran over another cop and took a female doctor hostage whom he allegedly shot in the stomach before police stopped him in a hail of bullets, the Bangkok Post reported.
National Police chief General Wichean Potephosree said Thada had been under the influence of methamphetamines and had been charged last month for drunk driving in his home province.
After ramming his car into the vehicle of a retired policeman, he threatened the man at knifepoint and commandeered the car. When a policeman tried to stop him, Thada first stabbed the officer and then shot and killed him.
While driving off in the wrong lane he smashed into a taxi, whose driver he shot dead, leaving two foreign passengers unharmed.
He then commandeered another car belonging to a woman doctor, whom he took hostage. He ran over another policeman who attempted to stop him, breaking his leg.
Police stopped opened fire on Thada's car and killed him.
The doctor suffered a stomach wound, which police blamed on the perpetrator.
The incident occurred when the capital was enjoying the traditional New Year's celebrations, Songkran. - Sapa-dpa