Arrest of Phra Dao for Fatal Hit-and-Run of 21-Year-Old Woman Caught Hiding in Abandoned Monastery Cell - Thairath English
Villagers helped capture "Phra Dao," who sped a car and fatally struck a 21-year-old woman before fleeing. He was found hiding in an abandoned monastery cell, preparing to crawl down a latrine pit to escape. He claimed darkness prevented him from seeing the victim and denied drunk driving. He was defrocked and taken into custody for prosecution.
On the evening of 27 Oct 2026, a silver bronze Toyota sedan struck 21-year-old Rujikorn (nickname Kimji) Sammaseda as she was helping relatives harvest rice along the roadside in front of Wat Ban Khok Charoen (Sartatham) in Ban Yang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Buriram Province. She was thrown and died instantly. The driver then sped away, fatally hitting a villager's buffalo before abandoning the car at Wat Srisawang in Isan Subdistrict, Mueang District, Buriram. The driver, a temple monk, fled the scene, as previously reported.
The latest update: at about 08:00 on 29 Oct 2026, police from Mueang Buriram Station, together with community leaders and over 50 villagers, surrounded and arrested Phra Itthirit, or Phra Dao Duangmala, 55, the owner and driver of the involved car.
A monk from Wat Khok Charoen, where Phra Dao had formerly resided during previous rains retreat, spotted him returning to temporarily stay. The monk alerted villagers. When they arrived, Phra Dao tried to flee, prompting police and villagers to search for over an hour. Mr. Suang Keram, 54, the victim’s father-in-law, found Phra Dao hiding in an abandoned cell, seemingly preparing to crawl into a latrine pit. Upon being seen, he fled but was surrounded and captured by villagers before police presented an arrest warrant.
In preliminary questioning, Phra Dao admitted to driving the car but claimed he did not see or realize he had struck a person because it was dark. He denied having consumed alcohol while driving. Regarding his flight, he said he could not explain why he ran but now accepts full responsibility after two days on the run.
Later, Pol. Col. Jamrat Siriliang, chief of Mueang Buriram Police Station, and his investigation team took Phra Dao to Wat Srisawang in Isan Subdistrict for the defrocking ceremony amid more than 50 villagers who gathered with anger. Some shouted curses and questioned how a monk could commit a hit-and-run. Mr. Wanatchai Sombunchai, 35, a villager involved in the pursuit, said they previously found signs of white liquor bottles and snacks in the monastery cell, increasing villagers’ outrage at the incident.
Mr. Suang Keram, the victim’s father-in-law and the first to find the suspect, tearfully expressed relief at the arrest. He said the family had been sleepless with grief and frustration over the past two days, as his son-in-law and Rujikorn had married less than a month ago, on 1 Oct, only for her life to end so suddenly.
Authorities have detained Mr. Dao (after defrocking) and handed him over to the investigators at Mueang Buriram Police Station, charging him initially with hit-and-run. Further investigation will proceed to ensure strict legal prosecution according to the law.
