Thong Lor Police Station superintendent Pol Colonel Khajornpong Jitpakphum said the number of vehicles damaged had been raised to 41, as it was found that the truck crashed into 31 vehicles causing damage worth Bt2 million in the Thong Lor jurisdiction area as well as 10 other vehicles in the Makkasan precinct’s jurisdiction, causing damage worth Bt500,000.

The 27-year-old truck driver, Ekkaphot Yossiri, allegedly under the influence of crystal methamphetamine or “ice”, who was fleeing after crashing into a policeman’s motorcycle on Rajaprarop Road, went on to hit 10 other vehicles and then caused a pile-up of 31 vehicles in a 5-kilometre stretch of Sukhumvit Soi 63.

As his truck ran out of petrol at the entrance to the soi, he tried to escape on foot but was captured near the Ekamai Skytrain Station by some 20 people who had given chase.

As the insurance policy for the truck, which is owned by a private company, only covered a maximum of Bt600,000 in damage, Thong Lor police will call representatives of the insurance firm and the damaged persons in to discuss the issue, Khajornpong said.

The excess damages not covered by the original policy will either be included by the insurance firm or be filed at the Civil Court in lawsuits against Ekkaphot’s employer, he said.

The driver’s employer had not yet contacted police about compensation to the damaged persons, he added.

Khajornpong said Ekkaphot, who had confessed to charges including reckless driving, possessing illicit drugs, taking drugs and fleeing an accident scene without informing authorities, would be interrogated in detail by police before application to the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court for a detention order today.