Bang Kho Laem superintendant Pol Colonel Anek Praisri said on Thursday that an arrest warrant would be issued for Department of Rural Roads (DRR) temporary employee Amapan Cheykul, 59, if he failed to respond to a summons.

He said the case could result in a charge of recklessness causing injury to another person, which is punishable by three-years imprisonment.

Forensic officers and engineers were to re-inspect the scene on Friday  to determine if the crash could have stemmed from a mechanical malfunction, which caused the metal beam to spring out and hit the taxi.

Anek said Phromma has lost his left eye due to the injury and his right eye may be saved.

During a rain storm at 9am on Tuesday, Phromma’s taxi, heading from Rama III road towards the bridge to Thon Buri side of city, crashed into the barrier and a four-metre-long metal beam pierced the car’s windshield. The bridge was about to be raised to let a large ship pass through.