Erawan Shrine car accident: Driver suffered stroke (updated)

A car, caught clearly on CCTV, slammed into the fence of the Erawan Shrine on Friday night, injuring at least six people in the compound of the popular attraction. Police now say the driver suffered a stroke, causing the accident.

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Police confirm Erawan crash an accident

Online reporters

Police have confirmed the incident in which a car rammed into the Erawan Shrine, hurting five people, late on Friday was an accident, not a terrorist act.

"The driver had an acute stroke while on the wheel and lost control of herself," said acting Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahataworn said on Saturday.

"Her daughter, who was with her in the car, told us her mother suddenly had a seizure and lost control of the car before it hit the shrine," he said.

Video posted on YouTube by Post Today clearly shows the force of the crash, pushing some victims from the roadside on to the shrine itself.

"The closed-circuit camera footage showed the car was in reverse gear after the hit. But that's because the daughter was pulling the gear lever or the impact could have been much greater," the police general explained.

"This was not a terrorist or deliberate act to hurt anyone. It's an accident," he added.

The doctor who conducted dyed CT scanning on the driver told the police she did have a stroke. In the meantime, the police might have to press charges until the official confirmation comes, he said.

"If the doctor officially confirms the driver could not possibly have controlled the car in such a condition, she will not be held criminally responsible but civil charges might be filed by the victims, he said.

He added a DNA test also showed it was the mother who was behind the wheel, he added.

Asked why a person with such a risk was allowed to drive, Pol Lt Gen Sanit said her family members insisted she had never had a history. "A stroke can happen to anyone. It could be a one-in-a-million case but it does happen and we have to try to understand her."

The five injured persons are now safe and staying at the Police General Hospital.

"Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited the victims and there's nothing to worry about. The Tourism Ministry has a fund to take care of visitors. The most serious cases are broken legs and head wounds."

Asked whether authorities would reinforce the shrine's fences, Pol Lt Gen Sanit said talks might be held to discuss the possibility, especially if it helps bolster confidence among people and tourists.

Early morning story

Six hurt as car hits Erawan Shrine

Online Reporters

A car slammed into the fence of the Erawan Shrine on Friday night, injuring at least six people in the compound of the popular attraction.

The Toyota sedan apparently lost control, hit the fence and came to a stop inside the shrine compound at the Ratchaprasong intersection in central Bangkok, Thai Rath reported.

FM 91 Traffic Police radio reported earlier that at least five people were injured, but Thai Rath said the number had risen to six. They were paying respects to the Hindu god at the shrine at the time, according to the Daily News.

Those injured were identified as coming from Indonesia, Singapore and China in addition to Thai national Mrs Kanuengnit Techorai, 55, who was the driver of the car, the traffic radio station Jor Sor 100 reported.

Police rushed to the area and said the driver might have had an epileptic seizure and lost control of the car. Further details on the driver and those injured have not been released.

Police clear the shrine area shortly after the crash.

"It was an accident," Lumpini police commander Pornchai Chalodet told AFP of the crash. "A lady had an epileptic seizure while driving and couldn't control the car."

"We were praying and then suddenly we heard a big noise and we saw a car coming inside. We ran like crazy. It was very scary. At I first thought it was a car bomb but everyone was very calm around us," a 21-year-old tourist from Vietnam, who gave her name as Kristy, told AFP.

The Erawan Shrine was the site of a bombing in August last year that killed 20 people and shocked the country.

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