Bangkok: Electric Car Crashes Into Kuan Yin Shrine in Chinatown, Leaving 3 People Injured (Video)

Several people were injured after an electric car lost control and crashed into the Kuan Yin Shrine at the Tian Fah Foundation on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong district on Thursday. The accident was reported at 13:13 on 1 October 2026, when an electric vehicle suddenly veered off the bustling roadway, ploughed through the entrance gates, and slammed into worshippers gathered within the courtyard. 

The incident occurred in the area under the jurisdiction of Phlapphla Chai 2 Police Station. Emergency responders, medical teams, and local rescue workers rushed to the landmark complex, cordoning off the site and transferring the injured to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Initial reports confirmed that three people sustained injuries, including two who suffered serious trauma, while visiting the historic religious institution to pray. Bangkok Flood: Jet Skier Arrested Over Stunt on Submerged Roads as Death Toll Reaches 12 (Video).

Electric Car Crashes Into Kuan Yin Shrine in Chinatown

Witnesses reported that around 30 visitors and devotees were paying their respects inside the shrine grounds when the vehicle suddenly entered through the main gate at speed. Worraphon Youngcham, a 60-year-old security guard stationed at the property, said worshippers and staff narrowly avoided being struck by diving out of the car's path.

The vehicle crashed into structural fixtures and offering tables directly in front of the central shrine altar. Despite the impact causing noticeable damage to perimeter items, the prominent golden statue of the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin remained undamaged as the vehicle came to a halt right at its pedestal.

Police identified the driver as a 78-year-old man named Chairoj, who appeared disoriented in the immediate aftermath of the collision. Witnesses and investigators noted that the driver had pre-existing medical conditions, including high blood pressure.

During police questioning, the motorist explained that he was driving to the shrine to pay his respects when he suddenly lost consciousness, inadvertently depressing the accelerator and causing the car to surge into the compound. Breathalyser and sobriety tests conducted at the station returned negative results for alcohol.

Officers from the Phlapphla Chai 2 Police Station have initially charged the driver with reckless driving causing injury to others. Investigators stated that the severity of additional charges would depend on medical evaluations and the recovery progress of the hospitalised victims.

Surveillance footage from nearby traffic cameras and the foundation's security network is being examined to establish the precise speed and trajectory of the vehicle before it entered the pedestrian sanctuary.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2026 05:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).