A six-wheel truck driver, allegedly under the influence of crystal methamphetamine, was nabbed near Sukhumvit Soi 63 in Bangkok’s Wattana district Wednesday afternoon for causing an 38-vehicle collision.
The suspect, who was fleeing after crashing into a policeman’s motorcycle, went on to hit 10 other vehicles and then caused a pile-up of 28 vehicles in a 5-kilometre stretch of Sukhumvit Soi 63. The incident also caused severe traffic jams.
Upon hearing of the accidents at 1pm, police rushed to scene to find 26 cars and two motorcycles hit by the truck from the middle to the mouth of the soi, where the truck was parked after having run out of petrol.
The truck driver, identified as Ekkaphot Yossiri, 27, reportedly fled towards Ekamai Skytrain Station on foot, where he was surrounded by some 20 people who had given chase.
City police chief Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn told the press later Wednesday that Ekkaphot confessed to be high on drugs, a claim that was backed by a positive urine test and 1.93 grams of “ice” in his possession.
