Suphee Butphrom, head of transport at Chaipiwat Co, said they were not aware that Ekkaphot Yossiri, 27, had committed similar crimes before.Ekkaphot, allegedly under the influence of crystal meth, was fleeing after crashing into a policeman’s motorcycle on Rajaprarop Road and went on to crash into 42 other vehicles until his truck ran out of petrol at Sukhumvit Soi 63.

Suphee said the company checked the background of prospective employees and submitted them for a urine test but did not ask for a criminal record check with police.

He said Ekkaphot had worked with the company for four months and he kept to himself most of time and did not display any abnormal behaviour until the incident.

The company would pay for damages that the insurance policy did not cover without them having to file lawsuits, he said, adding that the company was also considering making a “Kha Tham Kwan” payment to redress those who suffered losses.Representatives of the truck’s insurer, Syn Mun Kong Insurance Plc, met owners of cars damaged in the incident at Thong Lor Police Station to discuss compensation to those with third-class car insurance or none at all.

Shopkeepers whose property was reportedly damaged also attended.Deputy superintendent Pol Lt Colonel Noppadol Samart, who acted as mediator, told reporters that 34 cars and eight motorcycles were damaged in the incident.

Police took Ekkaphot to Southern Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday when they applied for an order to detain him. He now faces seven charges, including having drugs in possession, driving under the influence of illicit drugs and failing to stop to aid

accident victims. Police objected to him being released on bail, saying he was a flight risk as he had prior criminal offences.