Two Monks Injured in Pickup Crash at U-Turn
Two Buddhist monks were injured when their pickup truck was hit by a Toyota Vigo during a U-turn on Mittraphap Road in Pak Chong district while returning to their temple after collecting alms.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Two Buddhist monks were injured after their pickup truck was hit by another vehicle as they made a U-turn while returning to their temple after collecting alms in Pak Chong district.
Police were alerted at 09:00 to the crash on Mittraphap Road, between kilometres 45 and 46, on the inbound side toward Nakhon Ratchasima, in front of the Klang Dong Highway Maintenance Unit. Police, traffic officers, highway police and rescue teams from several local agencies rushed to the scene.
At the U-turn, officers found a white Nissan pickup bearing a sticker identifying a forest temple on its front windshield. The vehicle had been struck on its right side, veered off the road and crashed into a wooded area. Its Carryboy canopy had been torn off and was found on the road.
Two monks were found injured on the ground after being thrown from the vehicle. They were identified as Luang Pho Subin, 64, the driver, and Phra Phongphiphat, 47, who had been sitting in the rear canopy.
A short distance away, a white Toyota Vigo pickup fitted with a steel cage had crashed into a concrete median barrier, with one of its wheels lodged on the edge of the road. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Arthit Takan, and a male teenage passenger were also injured. Rescue workers provided first aid before taking the injured to Pak Chong Nana Hospital and Bangkok Hospital Khao Yai.
A preliminary police investigation found that Subin had driven the pickup from a forest temple early in the morning with Phongphiphat. They parked the vehicle and went out to collect alms. After finishing, the monks got back into the pickup to return to the temple. Phongphiphat was sitting in the rear Carryboy compartment.
As Subin began making a U-turn, the Toyota Vigo travelling behind them crashed heavily into the side of their vehicle. Both pickups lost control and were thrown in different directions, causing the two monks to be ejected from their truck.
Police said all injured parties were taken for medical treatment. Pol. Maj. Attaphon Thuekphranow, an investigating officer at Klang Dong Police Station, said officers had photographed the scene and arranged for both vehicles to be towed to the station for inspection.
Police will question both drivers once their injuries have improved and proceed with legal action based on the findings.
