Motorists on Kanchanaphisek Road in Nonthaburi suffered through an hours-long traffic gridlock on Monday morning after a pickup truck crashed into the metal framework supporting a huge overhead sign, and it fell onto the road.
The incident was reported to Bang Bua Thong police about 5.30am.
It occurred near kilometre marker 44+250 on the outbound side of the 64-kilometre road, also known as the Bangkok Outer Ring Road, that connects Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Ayutthaya provinces.
Responders called to the scene said a grey Isuzu pickup truck involved in the accident suffered major frontal damage.
Early reports indicated the vehicle was on the frontage road and hit the support post anchored to the median strip on its right.
Surveillance camera footage later showed the pickup was actually on the main road. It arrived at high speed and crashed into the support post, ending up on the median strip.
The driver was reported to have fled the scene. Police said they would find him.
The pickup driver would be charged with damaging government property, Sitthichai Saraphrom, head of Bang Bua Thong Highway Division, said.
The collapsed overhead sign blocked all three outbound lanes of this major roadway. Motorists were redirected onto the frontage road, leading to a long queue of vehicles.
Many motorists complained about experiencing heavy gridlock over several kilometres during the rush hours.
The JS100 Radio reported about 8am that a crane was being used to remove the collapsed sign. Normal traffic resumed about two hours later.