Monk Abandons Heavily Damaged Car in Udon Thani, Citing Supernatural Encounter

On August 16, 2026, police in Udon Thani province were alerted to an abandoned, heavily damaged sedan near the Phala intersection on the city’s bypass road. According to Khaosod Online, a local street vendor initially approached the vehicle to assist, discovering that the driver was a Buddhist monk who appeared visibly shaken and confused.

The vendor reported that the monk, who claimed the car had been involved in an accident two to three days prior, attempted to find a tricycle to travel to Nong No village before eventually abandoning the vehicle and walking away on foot. Police later located the 46-year-old monk approximately two kilometers from the scene. During questioning, the monk, who stated he had been ordained for one Buddhist Lent and belonged to a forest temple in Maha Sarakham province, alleged that he fled the scene because a female ghost had been sitting in the car with him.

Authorities have since contacted the monk’s relatives to arrange for his medical care. For residents and travelers in the area, this incident highlights the importance of reporting abandoned vehicles on bypass roads to local authorities to prevent secondary accidents. While the monk’s account of a supernatural passenger remains unverified, the primary concern for officials is the individual's mental state and the circumstances surrounding the initial collision.