A 29-year-old Thai man allegedly drove his SUV into a swimming pool at a university in Bangkok after his mother refused to help him pay his condominium rent.
The incident happened on the morning of June 18 at Chulalongkorn University, where a white SUV crashed through a fence and ended up partially submerged in a pool outside the Sasapol Building.
Police from Pathum Wan Police Station and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the damaged vehicle sitting in the water with its doors open. The driver, identified only as 29-year-old Chin, suffered injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. No other casualties were reported.
According to local reports, the incident stemmed from a dispute over monthly condominium rental expenses. Chin was reportedly paying around 27,000 to 30,000 baht per month (approximately S$1,060 to S$1,180) and had asked his mother to contribute towards the payments. However, she allegedly refused.
Following the disagreement, he allegedly drove onto the university campus. Security guards attempted to stop him, but he accelerated, smashed through a barrier and fence before plunging the vehicle into the pool.
Reports indicate the driver managed to get out of the vehicle and swim to safety before emergency crews arrived. He was later transported to hospital for further treatment.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to establish the exact motive behind the incident and are also looking into the driver’s mental state and circumstances leading up to the crash.
The unusual incident quickly drew attention online, with many netizens expressing disbelief that a disagreement over rental payments could escalate to such an extent.