PATTAYA, Thailand – A late-night argument near Pattaya Beach Road escalated into a violent confrontation, leaving a woman injured and a som tam vendor facing questioning by police.
At around 12:36 a.m. on July 23, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Center received a report of a fight with injuries inside Soi Beach Road Pattaya 13/2.
Rescue workers and Pattaya police were dispatched to the scene, where a large crowd of local residents and tourists had gathered after the disturbance. Officers found a 33-year-old woman injured with a knife wound to the neck area. Rescue personnel provided first aid before rushing her to hospital for treatment. The injured woman told authorities that she had approached the som tam vendor to stop an argument involving another food seller she considered like a mother. She said the situation became heated after she was confronted with verbal insults before the vendor allegedly used a knife, causing her injury.
The 55-year-old som tam vendor, who was identified as the person involved in the knife incident, gave a different account. She told police that the injured woman had approached her while intoxicated, accused her of having a dispute with another nearby food vendor, and then allegedly threw ice at her face and damaged her food stall. The vendor said she lost control of the situation and picked up the knife she normally used for preparing papaya salad before striking the woman. She admitted arguing with the woman but said she had previously helped provide food and support and did not expect the confrontation to escalate.
A nearby food vendor, known as “Pa Fah,” 60, told authorities that the two women were not related, although the injured woman often referred to her as a mother figure. She said the injured woman had earlier ordered food before suddenly approaching the som tam vendor and accusing her of having a conflict.
Other local witnesses told police that the injured woman was known to become confrontational when drinking, but they did not expect the disagreement to escalate into violence. Pattaya police took the som tam vendor to the station for questioning, while the injured woman remained under medical care and will be asked to provide further testimony once she is able. Authorities will continue investigating the circumstances of the incident to determine the facts and ensure a fair process for all parties involved.
