Lack of pedestrian bridge cited as monk killed on busy Angthong road
An elderly monk was struck and killed by a pickup truck in Angthong on Monday morning – while crossing the road where a pedestrian flyover was knocked down in an accident last year.
The death of Phra Dej Kitwibul, 75, of Wat Mathurostiyaram, prompted residents and fellow monks to urge that the pedestrian bridge be rebuilt.
Police said the monk was making his alms rounds and crossing over to the Bangkok-bound lane of the Asia Highway at 5.30am when the pickup driven by Watchara Kaewmanee, 43, travelling at 100 kilometres per hour, struck him.
The driver said the monk appeared so suddenly that he couldn’t stop or take evasive action in time.
Abbot Phrakrhu Phisal Kunapinan said monks had to cross the busy road every morning to collect alms, risking their lives, ever since a bulldozer accidentally brought the pedestrian bridge down last year.
Resident Jiraporn Panthuwong, 39, said local people, factory workers and students also faced grave risks crossing the road and pleaded for the bridge to be rebuilt.