An elderly driver slammed an electric car into a Bangkok Buddhist shrine on Thursday, trapping worshippers underneath and sending three people to the hospital.
The gray electric car entered the Guanyin Shrine at the Thian Fah Foundation through the main gate around 1 p.m. and struck people sitting before a Buddhist shrine.
The driver was 78. The Sun reported that rescue volunteers used a hydraulic press to free three people trapped under the vehicle. All three were rushed to the hospital.
A 60-year-old woman suffered serious injuries. Two others had minor injuries. A security guard said about 30 people were visiting the 68-year-old shrine when the crash happened.
Dust and debris covered the scene. The Guanyin statue remained intact.
The Bangkok Post reported that the driver suffered a sudden dizzy spell, lost consciousness, and accidentally pressed the accelerator. Bangkok police were called to the shrine and launched an investigation into the cause.
The driver’s name was not released. No arrests or charges were reported.
The World Health Organisation places Thailand near the top globally for road deaths per person each year. The country ranks ninth out of 175 WHO member nations.
Worshippers who came to pray ended up under a car. When older drivers lose consciousness behind the wheel, the public pays first, and basic fitness to drive is a safety issue, not a private one.
