Villagers held a major merit-making ceremony for five fatalities after a pickup truck crashed into a traffic signal pole in Chainat. Following widespread lottery wins across the subdistrict, a survivor revealed that during a coma state, he saw the lord of death awaiting him. He also disclosed lucky numbers taken from the holy water bowl on the merit day to try luck in the 16 Mar 2026 draw.
In an incident involving a white Isuzu D-Max pickup truck with license plate 3 ฒผ 606 from Bangkok, the vehicle ran a red light at Wat Chanthanaram intersection, Moo 1, Huay Krod subdistrict, Sankhaburi district, Chainat province. It scraped along the traffic signal pole until it hung loosely, then crashed into the rear of a worker transport pickup before hitting a large electric pole, spinning and colliding with a parked pickup truck. The accident resulted in five deaths and five injuries during the early morning of 22 Feb 2026.
Most recently, on 15 Mar, over 100 villagers from both Huay Krod and Huay Krod Phatthana subdistricts gathered, bringing more than 1,000 items including rice, food, fruit, snacks, and milk to offer in a major merit-making ceremony at the accident site. This was to dedicate merit to the five deceased victims, wishing them a favorable afterlife. Nearly every household bought lottery tickets using the truck's license plate number 606, winning prize number 06 exactly, and others who made vows won with the number 66, resulting in widespread wealth across the subdistrict.
Mr. Prakong Thongmee, village headman of Moo 4, Huay Krod subdistrict, Sankhaburi district, said villagers from both subdistricts gathered after winning prizes by buying lottery tickets with the truck’s license plate number. They held a major merit-making ceremony to dedicate merit to the deceased in accordance with traditional beliefs.
This time’s lucky number is 05, representing the five fatalities and five survivors. Another popular number comes from the holy water bowl used during the major merit ceremony, with people seeing numbers 3, 8, 9, and 5. Each person chooses their own lucky number and goes to buy tickets for the next draw.
Mr. Chaitawat, or Nak, 26, a survivor of the pickup truck accident running a red light and hitting an electric pole at Huay Krod intersection, where five died, revealed after brain surgery and recovery that he was returning home from a nightclub in Chainat city with a total of 10 people—six men and four women. Six were in the cab, including the driver and a male friend named Jame sitting beside him, with four women also inside. He was in the pickup bed with three friends. He fell asleep upon boarding and woke after the accident, able only to hear noise but unable to speak. Upon regaining consciousness, he first thought of Luang Pho Mo from Wat Chanthanaram, who he wears around his neck, and found that Jame and the friends in the pickup bed had survived. All wore amulets of Luang Pho Mo and Luang Pho Guay.
Mr. Nak also described his coma experience, saying he was in complete darkness and saw five large figures of the lord of death standing silently, which frightened him greatly. Yet, he heard the voice of his grandfather, who passed away over 20 years ago, calling his name repeatedly to return. He woke up in the hospital. Regarding the cause, he confirmed the driver was normal and driving at a moderate speed before the accident, but the footage shows a sudden acceleration near Huay Krod health center. They suspect the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Nak intends to ordain as a novice monk for seven days to dedicate merit to Luang Pho Mo, then ordain fully as a monk since military service had previously prevented him from doing so.
Ms. Cho, 50, Mr. Nak’s mother, expressed how distressed she was upon learning of the accident, especially when seeing several bodies covered with white cloth at the scene. Her son's condition was severe, with brain hemorrhaging requiring skull surgery to remove large amounts of blood. After surgery, doctors said he recovered remarkably quickly, which she finds miraculous—as if he had died and been reborn. She firmly believes her son survived the horrific accident because of the spiritual protection of Luang Pho Mo, whose amulet he wore.
