Canadian tourists were arrested for allegedly racing through a police checkpoint in Thailand.

Samuel Lee Jackson and Jared Liam Wong, both 34, allegedly fled from police who were responding to reports of an altercation on busy tourist island Phuket, on January 19.

Samuel was said to have crashed his black Ford pickup into several cars during the high-speed police chase, before he was intercepted in front of a mall.

Police Lieutenant Thanapat Sombhuwet, Deputy Chief of Investigation at the local station, said: 'At 4:45 pm, we received a report of a fight in front of the Patong Condotel Hotel. We arrived at the scene to control those involved, but the other party drove away.'

Officers found the driver Samuel sporting a gruesome bloody injury on his arm. He claimed he had fled from police because he was rushing to the hospital after being attacked.

He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment while his passenger, Jared, was detained.

Officers have also impounded their damaged pickup truck to check it for illegal items.

Police Captain ML Sanya Suksawat added: 'We are currently reviewing the CCTV footage as part of the ongoing investigation. We are determined to uncover the truth in this case.'

The once-beautiful island of Phuket is now marred by violence as the Thai government implemented a visa-free scheme to boost tourism revenue.

The policy has sparked outrage among locals claiming it has attracted crowds of 'low-quality' visitors to Thailand.

The rapid development and influx of millions of tourists also meant an ever-increasing amount of rubbish. The once sandy white beaches and crystal clear waters are now littered with growing piles of waste, with a staggering 1,000 tonnes of garbage hauled daily to a sprawling landfill on the island.