Police chase 'drug-addled' lorry driver rampaging through streets in Bangkok

This is the dramatic moment police chased a lorry rampaging through a road in Thailand.

Footage shows cops racing after the out-of-control vehicle as it sped across the streets of Bangkok on September 4.

The driver, Wallop Srisoongnern, 43, was reported to have been driving around in circles around the Maleenont Tower on Rama 4 Road before he was reported to the police.

He nearly crashed into pedestrians and other cars while barreling toward the Kluai Nam Thai intersection, where officers tried to climb onto the lorry trailer to break his window. However, he grabbed a knife and tried to stab at the cops, forcing them to retreat.

One policeman suffered minor injuries in the scuffle.

Police fired at Wallop's tyres but he swerved back and forth to avoid their shots.

He finally stopped at a bridge in neighbouring Samut Prakan province and fled on foot when his front wheel burst. Officers found him hiding in a culvert in a canal trying to hang himself.

He was taken to the Bangplee Hospital for treatment and will face charges upon being discharged.

Prawit, 39, a motorcycle rider injured during Wallop's rampage, was also reported to have died.

Police Major General Withawat Chinkham, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, said Wallop travelled some 19 miles (30 kilometres) before he was nabbed.

He said: ‘We are closely monitoring his condition at the hospital. He will be charged with reckless driving causing severe injury to another person and damage to property. As for additional charges, we need to gather more evidence.'

The police chief said Wallop was found to have a history of drug use, though no illegal items were found in his lorry.

Wallop's co-worker said he worked at a parking lot near the scene. He was described as a diligent worker who showed no previous signs of drug abuse.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.

However, a lack of road safety education in schools along with notoriously easy driving tests, police failures to enforce road laws, and chronic under-investment in infrastructure, all appear to hamper the efforts.