51-Year-Old Man Dies After Motorcycle Crashes Through Temple Wall, Body Found at Gate
A 51-year-old man died after his motorcycle crashed through a temple wall in Chiang Mai's San Sai District early May 23, with his body discovered by monks inside the gate compound hours later.
At 7:00 AM on May 23, 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Polchak Bunnark, superintendent of Mae Choe Police Station, received a report of a motorcycle accident at Vivek Vanarama Temple in Vivek Village, Nong Har Subdistrict, San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province, with a fatality. Officers from Mae Choe Police Station, highway patrol, Thipawan rescue unit, Nong Har Subdistrict Municipality, and the Mae Choe United Disaster Relief Association responded to the scene.
Authorities found a red Honda Dream motorcycle pinning the body of the deceased. The victim's body showed severe head trauma with a crushed skull exposing brain matter. A doctor from San Sai Hospital performed preliminary examination, estimating death occurred 4-6 hours prior. The body was photographed as evidence and transferred to Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital.
Buddhist monks discovered the accident upon returning from morning alms collection when they noticed the temple's brick wall was cracked and damaged. Upon closer inspection inside the gate compound, they found the male body and immediately alerted local authorities.
The deceased was identified as Chudech (surname withheld), 51 years old. His family revealed they had searched for him throughout the night after he disappeared around 8:00 PM the previous evening. Security footage showed he initially wore a white shirt before changing into a short-sleeved blue shirt before leaving. His wife, daughter, and relatives were devastated upon seeing his body.
Residents identified the location as an extremely dangerous junction behind Mae Choe University—a dark, sharp curve serving as a shortcut with heavy traffic at high speeds day and night. A similar fatal accident occurred 2-3 years earlier at the same dangerous bend. Locals are urging authorities to install additional street lighting and speed-reduction barriers or rumble strips urgently. Police investigators are collecting evidence and reviewing CCTV footage to determine the accident's exact cause.
