Monks’ Deaths in Crash Move Local Buddhists
FRESNO — Buddhist monks described as “high rulers†of their temples in Thailand were on the last leg of a pilgrimage to the United States, visiting temples from New York City to North Hollywood, when a ferocious windstorm overturned their heavily loaded van in the rural San Joaquin Valley, killing seven occupants.
Survivors said the van flipped several times as it crashed on Interstate 5 near Coalinga on Monday evening, killing six of the visitors from Thailand and one from the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in North Hollywood. The other seven of the 14 aboard were injured, including two from North Hollywood.
Walking dazed through hospital corridors at the University Medical Center in Fresno, monks clad in orange- and mustard-colored robes and sandals waited Tuesday for news of the victims.
The driver of the van, Phramaha Wichanaow Chamsawas, from the North Hollywood temple, described the ordeal with his left arm in bandages and cuts on his head.
“I passed this big rig and we were fine,†he said, speaking through a translator. “Then a big wind came from nowhere. It was a big wind.
“I lost control and our van flipped,†he said as he sat in an air-conditioned van outside the hospital, waiting for news of the others. “I don’t know how many times.â€
At that point, Chamsawas still did not know what had happened to the monks in the van.
“How are the others? How are the others?†he asked repeatedly.
Finally, Dr. Chin Savanapridi, a Thai medical doctor who acted as a liaison between the monks and the hospital staff, told him that many were dead.
His eyes welled with tears. “They were my friends and my teachers,†he said.
The Thai monks had been scheduled to return to Thailand today.
In North Hollywood, the monks prepared to hold services for the dead and injured as they sent a small group to Fresno to assist the others.
“This situation is very sad. Too much sad,†said the Venerable Supharp Sikkhasabho, who described the Thai delegation as “high rulers†from temples throughout Thailand. “It’s like we lost a part of our lives.â€
The Thai group had arrived in the United States on May 5, first visiting the North Hollywood temple then spending four days in New York, visiting a temple there. They returned to North Hollywood before heading north early Sunday morning.
Petuck Maykin, who does volunteer work at the Wat Buddhanusorn Temple in Fremont near San Francisco, said the group came to discuss the grand opening of that temple and the dedication of its new building, which will include a ceremonial gathering of 150 to 200 monks.
The group, 12 monks and two student monks, left for Southern California after 5 p.m. on Monday, he said.
The sudden windstorm, which whipped dust in an unusual east-to-west pattern, was extraordinarily fierce for this time of year. It also caused a major accident on California 99 near Fresno and spread two brush fires in the Sierra foothills Monday evening.
California Highway Patrol officers who investigated the accident said the bodies were “thrown all over the place†and that the wind apparently pushed the van off the freeway.
After the monks in North Hollywood spent hours trying to piece together information, they released a list of the dead: Phrakhru Nonthawaranuwat, Phrakhru Sukhumthammawong, Phrakhru Kasemjariyaphirom, Phrakhru Wijitnawakam, Phrakhru Sangkharakjaroon and Phra Kluen Khakkharo--all of Thailand--and Amorn Banlangkul, 33, of North Hollywood.
Late Tuesday afternoon, more than two dozen people gathered at the Wat Thai temple for a prayer service honoring the dead monks. At the base of a 20-foot Buddha, members left offerings including spring water, bananas, apples and eggs.
Eight monks led members in a series of prayers. Candles and incense were lighted and an easel was set up bearing the monks’ names.
Once the bodies are returned to Los Angeles, the temple members plan more ceremonies. Said Sutat Pongyuan, a temple member: “There is a saying in Buddhism that people are born, get old, get sick and die. We are taught not to be sad. It is part of life.â€
One of the most seriously injured, the Venerable Sirinontakun Chaiharn, was described by those in North Hollywood as an expert woodcarver who helped design the Wat Thai temple in the 1970s. He lived at the temple from 1974 to 1978 and returned to Southern California every year.
He did woodcutting and gold-leaf designs on the roof of the temple.
“He has a lot of friends here and a lot of fellowship,†said Sikkhasabho. “He’s well-known.â€
The other crash survivors were: Phrakhru Nonthasamwisit Kwanmuang, Phrakhru Nonthaweeraporn, Phrakhru Prasitrattanakhun, Phrakhru Sangkharakjaran, Chamsawas the driver and Natthaporn Rochanachaiy, of North Hollywood.
Two were listed in serious but stable condition, one in critical condition and the other four were treated and released.
Although they survived, Dr. Savanapridi said, the crash left them “confused and dazed--they don’t know what to do.â€
Arax reported from Fresno and Shuster reported from the San Fernando Valley. Also contributing was Times staff writer Andrew Blankstein in the San Fernando Valley.
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