Drunk Monk Kills Woman, Flees, Arrested in Forest Temple
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Police and villagers surrounded a forest temple to arrest a monk who, while intoxicated, drove a sedan and struck 21-year-old Ms. Rujikorn on the roadside in Kok Charoen village, Ban Yang subdistrict, Mueang district, Buriram province. She sustained severe injuries and later died at the hospital. The monk, 55-year-old Phra Dao, fled the scene and struck and killed a buffalo. Concerned citizens witnessed the incident and pursued him for over 10 kilometers until they found his damaged sedan abandoned at a temple in Isan subdistrict, Mueang district, Buriram. A search of his hut revealed an empty liquor bottle and a partially eaten snack on the table. The incident occurred on the evening of October 27.
In the latest development on October 29, 2026, Pol. Lt. Col. Jamras Sirileang, Superintendent of Mueang Buriram Police Station, led investigators along with community leaders and villagers to cordon off the forest behind Wat Kok Charoen in Ban Yang subdistrict after learning Phra Dao was hiding there. They found him concealed in a hut and took him into custody for questioning, amid a large crowd of the victim's relatives and villagers.
During questioning, the former monk denied being drunk at the time of the accident, claiming the alcohol and snacks in his hut were bought by a friend and he had not consumed them. He stated he was driving from Wat Si Sawang to run an errand in Kok Charoen village when, at a winding section with parked vehicles obstructing the road, he swerved across lanes without realizing he had hit someone. He continued driving until he later realized he had struck a person, then fled until his arrest. He said he purchased the sedan for 27,000 baht.
Police have initially charged him with reckless driving causing death, driving in a manner causing damage to persons or property and failing to stop and assist or report to authorities. Additional charges will be filed if blood tests confirm alcohol in his system.
Villagers reported that Phra Dao had been ordained three times previously. He was first disrobed for drinking alcohol, the second time for having a wife, and this was his third ordination before he drove from the temple and fatally struck the young woman and the buffalo.
