The owners of vehicles damaged by a six-wheel lorry in a road rampage incident on the downtown streets of Bangkok on Wednesday will only be paid 600,000 baht from the lorry's insurance company, to be shared among all the victims.
Victims are required to file civil suits for payment to cover the remainder of the damages.
According to police, the latest findings were that a total of 41 vehicles were damaged by the lorry that careered wildly through Bangkok's streets.
The 27-year-old driver, identified as Ekkapot Yossiri, has been charged with reckless driving, drug abuse and fleeing the scene of an accident.
Pol Col Khajornpong Jitphakphum, superintendent of Thong Lor police station, said the total cost of the damage to the 41 vehicles was estimated to be roughly 2.5 million baht. He said the vehicles were hit across areas under the jurisdiction of Makkasan and Thong Lor police stations. Police have made arrangements for Syn Mun Kong Insurance (SMK), the insurance firm, and the victims to negotiate.
According to Pol Col Khajornpong, SMK advised that it will pay 600,000 baht for property damage and that the victims will have to file civil lawsuits against the owner of the lorry for additional compensation. He said police are ready to provide assistance and advice to the victims who wish to seek compensation from the lorry company.
Pol Col Khajornpong said that police will ask the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court to approve the continued detention of the suspect today for additional questioning. "Police can hold a suspect for up to 48 hours, so we will ask the court tomorrow for an extension," he said.
Following his arrest on Wednesday, Mr Ekkapot told police that he was on drugs and was brokenhearted before he ran amok. Police also found 1.93 grammes of crystal meth in his possession.
Khomkrit Thianthanom, a representative from SMK, said the truck owner, Chaipiwat Co, holds a third-party voluntary policy covering 600,000 baht for property damage, in addition to the compulsory policy.
As for injuries, the victims will be compensated and paid a maximum amount of 80,000 baht each under the compulsory policy, according to Mr Khomkrit. They are also eligible to additional compensation under the voluntary policy with coverage of up to one million baht, also to be split among the victims, he said.