Motorcyclist and his Passenger Killed at Entrance to Chiang Rai Temple

CHIANG RAI – A motorcyclist and his passenger were found dead on Monday morning as the result of an accident at Wat Tham Sao Hin in Chiang Rai.

Police determined that their Honda bike had struck a tree planter on the stairway to a chapel, about one kilometer from the main road.

Monks rising for their morning alms rounds found the victims at the temple in Moo 3 village, Mae Sai district.

The dead were identified as Kiartisak Srisahas, 45, and Pratchaya Saehuang, 47.

A physician decided they had died from severe head injuries about six hours before their bodies were found.

One of the monks, Phra Suriya Naijai, told police he’d heard a loud noise, as if a large tree branch had broken off, at 1 am and dogs in the temple began barking, but no one checked to see what had happened.