A 6-year-old girl was struck by a teacher's car on a school crosswalk, resulting in brain death. Her family decided to donate her corneas to the Red Cross as a final act of merit to save other patients.
Reporters stated that at 08:00 on 22 Jan 2026, a white Toyota car registered in Nakhon Ratchasima hit 6-year-old Kanyavee Sangrai, known as Nong Gle, a first grader, on the crosswalk in front of Ban Dong Yo School, Pakiap Subdistrict, Khukhamet District, Buriram Province. She was crossing the road to school when the driver, 32-year-old teacher Kanokwan, who owns the car, struck her.
The accident caused Nong Gle to suffer serious injuries. She was taken to Buriram Hospital, where doctors later confirmed brain death. Her parents and relatives then decided to perform a major merit by donating her body, specifically her two corneas, to help others before she passed away.
On 23 Jan 2026, at a home in Village No. 10, Ban Nong Pho, Pakiap Subdistrict, Khukhamet District, Buriram, villagers gathered to prepare the place to receive Nong Gle's body, which was undergoing eye removal surgery. Everyone expressed sadness that she passed away at just 6 years old, far too soon.
Interviewing 47-year-old Thongluan Promjan, Nong Gle's grandfather, he said the mother usually rides a motorcycle to drop her off at the school gate, parking at the crosswalk opposite the school to cross with her. On that day, the girl crossed alone, and her mother thought it was safe because it was a crosswalk. When Nong Gle reached the middle of the road waiting for another lane's traffic, the white car suddenly hit her violently, breaking the right headlight and damaging the lower hood. He said it was severe as she was thrown onto the sidewalk. The grandfather was heartbroken since the accident happened at a crosswalk right in front of the school.
The family then decided to donate Nong Gle's organs to help other patients but could only donate her corneas. They donated them to the Thai Red Cross as a major merit, hoping she would become an angel in heaven.
He added that safety measures should be improved with clearer school zone warning signals, such as audible alerts or flashing lights when vehicles approach. He also suggested that police officers be assigned to help children cross safely because this route has heavy, fast traffic. He urged relevant authorities to take responsibility for these safety improvements.
He further revealed that Nong Gle’s mother previously told him she dreamt three nights in a row of a dark figure pulling her daughter’s leg, not expecting that such a tragic event would actually occur. The family’s decision to donate her body to the Thai Red Cross was motivated by their wish to create a final major merit for Nong Gle’s life.
