BOSTON -- Police were trying Friday to figure out what caused Timothy Newton, 38, of Revere, to lose control of his truck carrying medical supplies Thursday morning, crashing into eight other vehicles on Commonwealth Avenue before finally bursting into flames.

NewsCenter 5 has learned that the crash was not the first time Newton has had trouble on the road. He has a history of problems on his driving record.

Newton's license was suspended in 1997 after seven violations or accidents. It was suspended again in 2005. In 2007, it was reinstated after he took a driver safety course.

All in all, his driving record has 61 entries for speeding, failure to stop, failure to use safety and accidents in Boston, Revere, Everett, Watertown and Maine, according to the Boston Herald.

A witness said she spoke to Newton just after the crash and he told her he thought he may have blacked out at the wheel.

"He really didn't remember what happened, that he thinks he blacked out. And he remembers hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake," she said.

Newton was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon with his leg wrapped in an air cast and using a cane. He apologized for the crash.

The crashes occurred about 7:20 a.m. when the truck, heading westbound on Commonwealth Avenue, hit a pickup truck at Babcock Street, pushing it onto a fence bordering nearby trolley tracks.

The New England Delivery truck then proceeded to smash into four other cars nearby and three more vehicles at Brighton Avenue, including a parked Land Rover, which went sailing into a real-estate office window.

The last car hit, a Lexus, was dragged down the street by the truck until both burst into flames.

Most of the cars involved were parked vehicles and despite all the damage, there were no fatalites. Three people, including Newton, suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized.

Police are still investigating the crash and no charges have been filed.