The story of former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo’s leg injury has taken a dramatic turn after the Finnish racing coach told Bangkok police the incident was an accident and not an assault.
A week after he sustained a nasty cut that required 28 stitches — giving rise to some alarming headlines in Finland and elsewhere — Thai police got to hear his story in person on Tuesday.
The first report about the incident appeared on the Finnish-language website Ilta-Sanomat (IS) on May 22. It quoted the former race driver saying a motorbike passed him as he was crossing a road in Bangkok. He later realised that he had sustained a serious leg wound, possibly from a sharp object.
IS quoted him as saying that the hospital staff aid they had seen a handful of similar cases that night. Mr Salo did not file a police report.
A day later, the Daily Express in the UK picked up the tale and upgraded it to a “stabbing rampage”.
Thai police began looking into the story and finally caught up with Mr Salo on Tuesday. He told them that the incident was accidental, according to police.
On May 19, Mr Salo, 59, had been walking from Sukhumvit Soi 6 past the entrance to Sukhumvit Soi 4 and was crossing a zebra crossing toward the Nana intersection when he felt a motorcycle brush against him.
He reportedly did not realise he had been injured until a passer-by told him that his leg was bleeding.
He later sought treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital, where the wound required 28 stitches.
Authorities also received reports from hotel staff in the area that other tourists had described similar incidents. Police have since reviewed CCTV video from the area to identify the motorcycle rider and determine exactly what happened.
Police later visited Mr Salo at Police General Hospital, where he was undergoing a follow-up examination, before he proceeded to the Lumpini police station to give a formal statement.
