Chiang Mai Temple Abbot Causes Six-Vehicle Accident, Agrees to Pay 200,000 Baht in Damages

[webfact]

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand — A renowned temple abbot from Chiang Mai accidentally caused a series of vehicular damages on May 29, 2023, reported Siam Rath.

 

Driving a pickup truck, the respected abbot, unfamiliar with the controls, ended up backing into four parked cars and hitting two motorcycles. The incident happened in the Pa Tan village within the city of Chiang Mai. Startled by the events, the monk finally agreed to pay for the repairs, exceeding 200,000 Thai Baht.

 

The accident took place in the parking area of the Pa Tan residential community early morning. A four-door pickup truck reversed into a row of parked vehicles, causing considerable damage to four cars and two motorcycles.

 

The crashing sounds alerted the residents, who came out of their apartments to investigate the situation. The sight of the driver, a shaven-headed man clad in robes, exiting the vehicle in a state of extreme shock further alarmed the onlookers.

 

Upon inspection, the driver turned out to be a respected abbot from a notable temple in the Mae Rim District of Chiang Mai. He had driven to the village to visit relatives. Owing to his unfamiliarity with driving, he had caused the accident.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Police from the Chang Phueak station were informed and arrived at the scene. The abbot was taken to the station in a patrol vehicle, along with the victims, for further discussions.

 

He was later brought to Wat Jet Yot, a temple in Chiang Mai, for verification of his monkhood. Tests revealed no traces of alcohol, and no breach of monastic discipline was found.

 

The abbot returned to the Chang Phueak station, accompanied by his disciples. He agreed to compensate all the victims for their damages, totalling more than 200,000 Thai Baht.

 

His disciples then escorted him back to his temple. Police issued a warning to the abbot about the dangers of inappropriate driving.

 

Top Picture: Siam Rath

 

 

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[MartinL]

Amulets and the 'Holiness' of the Abbot didn't carry much weight this time, then!!

[NotEinstein]

When did the rules change so that it is OK for monks to drive vehicles?

[khwaibah]

Thai law forbids monks from having driver's licenses because the monastic code does not allow monks to drive or own vehicles to prevent accidents.Oct 17, 2565 BE

[Geoffggi]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Owing to his unfamiliarity with driving, he had caused the accident.

Dare one ask "did he have a driving license" ...........LOL

[worgeordie]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

and no breach of monastic discipline was found.

? , the 200,000 Bhat will be paid out of donations , or has he a personal bank

account  too, The Buddha must be spinning in Nirvana , these are not my teachings.

what's going on in Thailand.

 

regards Worgeordie

 

 

[foreverlomsak]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

Tests revealed no traces of alcohol, and no breach of monastic discipline was found.

 

The abbot returned to the Chang Phueak station, accompanied by his disciples. He agreed to compensate all the victims for their damages, totalling more than 200,000 Thai Baht.

No breach of monastic discipline was found - I thought monks were not allowed to drive.

 

He agreed to compensate all the victims for their damages, totalling more than 200,000 Thai Baht - I thought monks were supposed to forsake all worldly possessions, so were is he getting the money from, Oh the Wat will pay (meaning the people - collect more on your street collections please)

[2baht]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He agreed to compensate all the victims for their damages, totalling more than 200,000 Thai Baht.

He'll get that back in no time from the "worshipers"!

[2baht]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

The Buddha must be spinning in Nirvana , these are not my teachings.

....and they said, never mind, we are Thai! 

[actonion]

1 hour ago, khwaibah said:

Thai law forbids monks from having driver's licenses because the monastic code does not allow monks to drive or own vehicles to prevent accidents.Oct 17, 2565 BE

One head Monk in the Pattaya area just aquired himself  a new 7 series BMW a few  years ago 

[webfact]

Prominent Chiang Mai abbot’s shocking crash leaves trail of carnage
Nattapong Westwood

 

Photo via Khao Sod

 

A revered Chiang Mai temple abbot crashed into eight vehicles, including six cars and two motorcycles, causing carnage and prompting netizens to question why he was wearing shorts. The abbot, known as Kru Ba, was travelling to visit his younger brother but ended up in a multi-vehicle pile-up.

 

A witness at the scene, Sakul, reported that the accident occurred around 7am, yesterday, May 29, in front of Building 30, nearby to where he was staying at Building 29. He heard a loud crash and saw the pick-up truck reversing into several cars with the engine still running. He approached the vehicle, turned it off, and saw an abbot in abbot’s attire sitting in the driver’s seat.

 

The abbot seemed disoriented and walked into Building 30 after getting out of the car. Sakul notified the security and police who then escorted the monk to the police station. The abbot’s disciples later arrived and cleared the damage by paying 100,000 baht to each vehicle owner for repairs and offered new motorcycles for the damaged ones.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/prominent-chiang-mai-abbot-crashes-into-eight-cars-health-issues-suspected-2

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-30

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[foreverlomsak]

1 hour ago, actonion said:

One head Monk in the Pattaya area just aquired himself  a new 7 series BMW a few  years ago 

You can't expect him to have a car that is not in keeping with his station, can you?

 

[SGD]

3 hours ago, 2baht said:

He'll get that back in no time from the "worshipers"!

Your wish is my command ???? 

"The abbot’s disciples later arrived and cleared the damage by paying 100,000 baht to each vehicle owner for repairs and offered new motorcycles for the damaged ones."

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Startled by the events, the monk finally agreed to pay for the repairs, exceeding 200,000 Thai Baht.

From whose funds?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

what's going on in Thailand.

The usual Thainess?

[Tarteso]

3 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

From whose funds?

Buddha will provide

[spidermike007]

1. His claim about being unfamiliar with the controls is utter rubbish. It is a basic truck. A 15 year old could drive it. It shows how completely unfamiliar he is with the Buddhist teachings, which is all about truth, introspection, reflection, taking responsibility for problems one causes, and behaving like a man, not a child.

2. This is a very good reason NOT to revere a religious figure, and should be a lesson to the local people.

3. He should not be driving if he does not know the very basics about vehicular control. Lock him up. 

[shackleton]

Yes I was under the impression head Monks did not drive 

We're usually driven by a chauffeur ????

[kcpattaya]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

agreed to pay for the repairs, exceeding 200,000 Thai Baht

And where did the THB 200,000 come from? 

[madmitch]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Police issued a warning to the abbot about the dangers of inappropriate driving.

A warning? I wonder if they checked if he had a licence and being an abbot I suppose they didn't consider checking for alcohol!

[ignore it]

Weed and massive amulet failure.

[tandor]

44 minutes ago, SGD said:

Your wish is my command ???? 

"The abbot’s disciples later arrived and cleared the damage by paying 100,000 baht to each vehicle owner for repairs and offered new motorcycles for the damaged ones."

...does he venture out often...i need a vehicle upgrade

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

abbot’s shocking crash leaves trail of carnage
Nattapong Westwood

carnage, definition: the killing of a large number of people.

synonyms: slaughter. massacre, butchery

 

Looks like Nattapong Westwood does not quite understand the meaning of words he is using even though "Nattapong Westwood is a Bangkok-born writer who is half Thai and half Aussie. He studied in an international school in Bangkok and then pursued journalism studies in Melbourne."

[topt]

14 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

carnage, definition: the killing of a large number of people.

synonyms: slaughter. massacre, butchery

 

Looks like Nattapong Westwood does not quite understand the meaning of words he is using even though "Nattapong Westwood is a Bangkok-born writer who is half Thai and half Aussie. He studied in an international school in Bangkok and then pursued journalism studies in Melbourne."

Journalistic licence - since they are replacing the motor bikes that suggests they were pretty smashed up .........butchered even 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Two thoughts here:

 

1. If this monk was "renowned" before, he certainly is even more renowned now, but not in a very good way.

 

2. Glad to see that the local monks, who supposedly follow a code of poverty, easily were able to quickly scrape together 200,000 baht to pay off the mess the guy made.

 

I wonder if that's the kind of use the local congregants were expecting for their donations when they previously handed them over to the temple?

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 hours ago, khwaibah said:

Thai law forbids monks from having driver's licenses because the monastic code does not allow monks to drive or own vehicles to prevent accidents.Oct 17, 2565 BE

Bears repeating here, given the topic....

 

And then, we have this...

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

no breach of monastic discipline was found.

Huh???

 

[prakhonchai nick]

Half naked too.................I was once stopped for not wearing a shirt!

 

 

[prakhonchai nick]

Royalty, monks, hi-so's and many others..............all above the law..   He caused damage, because he was unfamilair with driving. If no driving licence, haul him into court, fine him and forbid him from holding a licence at any time in the future.   Make him scrub the temple floors to repay the money  that belongs to the wat!

[Chongalulu]

1 hour ago, tandor said:

...does he venture out often...i need a vehicle upgrade

”Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz,my friends all drive pick ups,I must make amends " ???? ????

[Chongalulu]

17 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Half naked too.................I was once stopped for not wearing a shirt!

 

 

Was it the "moobs”? ????