CCTV footage shows the moment a sedan crashed into the Guan Yin shrine at the Tian Fa Foundation. The trembling driver stood waiting to surrender, saying he has a medical condition that caused him to faint and confuse the brake with the accelerator.
At 13:30 on 1 Oct 2023, Police Sub-Lieutenant Weerawat Kamha, deputy investigator at Plabplachai 2 Police Station, received a report of a car losing control and crashing into the Guan Yin shrine at the Tian Fa Foundation on Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district, Bangkok. Several people were injured. He reported to his superiors and went to the scene with Police Colonel Witawat Kengkhum, chief of Plabplachai 2 Police Station, patrol officers, and rescue teams from Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
At the scene inside the Guan Yin shrine, a gray BYD electric car with Bangkok license plates was found parked on the altar with its front badly damaged. Ms. Wipa Liangprasert, 83, was trapped under the front bumper. Rescuers used a jack to lift the car and free her; she was in serious condition and rushed to Klang Hospital. Two others, Mr. Kriangkrai Kamsa, 21, with a broken leg, was sent to Mahet Hospital, and Ms. Praeploy Silabunsak, 27, with a head injury, was taken to Petchwet Hospital. The 78-year-old driver, Mr. Chairat, was trembling while waiting to surrender.
Mr. Woraphon Yangchaem, 60, a security guard at the Tian Fa Foundation, said about 30 people were worshipping and meditating at the Guan Yin shrine when the car suddenly sped through the gate. He tried to signal the driver to stop, but the driver did not stop, forcing him to jump out of the way. The car entered the shrine area, injuring some who could not escape in time.
Police Colonel Witawat Kengkhum, chief of Plabplachai 2 Police Station, said the driver told investigators that while driving to make merit at the shrine, he became confused and dizzy due to his high blood pressure. He stopped twice in the middle of the road, confused about which was the brake or accelerator, then pressed the accelerator and crashed into worshippers at the Guan Yin shrine. The injured were assisted and taken to the hospital.
Regarding damage, only the base of the Guan Yin statue was affected; the statue itself was unharmed. Authorities are questioning the driver to consider charges of negligence causing injury and property damage. Alcohol tests showed zero alcohol, and no drugs were found in his system.
CCTV review showed the car entered through the foundation’s gate, stopped, then moved slowly with intermittent stops before suddenly accelerating, crashing into a tent at the entrance to the shrine and hitting people inside who were praying, causing the injuries reported.
