Monk dies in car crash at John...

Monk dies in car crash at John Wayne Airport

A 75-year-old monk died after his car hit a pillar at John Wayne

Airport on Saturday morning.

Bich Nhu Ngo of Rosemead died of blunt-force trauma sustained in

the accident, Supervising Deputy Coroner Rod Thomas said. Ngo’s

occupation is listed as monk.

Rosemead is home to a Buddhist monastery.

A 72-year-old woman, who was in the back seat of Ngo’s car at the

time of the accident, had a broken hip, Orange County Sheriff’s

Department Lt. Ted Boyne said.

Ngo was driving on the second parking level at the airport at

about 5:30 a.m. Saturday when he “unexpectedly accelerated” and

crashed, Boyne said. Ngo was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

He died from his injuries about an hour later at Irvine Regional

Hospital.

A Sheriff’s Department team is investigating.