Dalai Lama Nephew Dead - Jigme Norbu Killed - Hit By Car

The Dalai Lama's nephew was hit and killed by a car along a dark Florida coastal highway. He was on the beginning stages of a 300-mile walk to promote Tibetan independence from China.

Key points

1. Jigme K. Norbu, 45, was walking the same direction as traffic. According to the Highway Patrol, the impact crumpled the vehicle's hood and shattered the front windshield.

2. The driver, 31-year-old Keith R. O'Dell of Palm Coast, was not charged. He and his 5-year-old son in the SUV were not injured.

Norbu was living in Bloomington, Indiana, and was active in a Tibetan rights group.
 
Norbu, the son of the Dalai Lama's late brother, Taktser Rinpoche, has done similar walks several other times, including 900 miles in 2009 from Indiana to New York.


According to the Associated Press "The Dalai Lama has visited Bloomington several times. The city about 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis is home to the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center and Kumbum Chamtse Ling Temple. Arjia Rinpoche, the center's director, said they would be praying for his family.
"We deeply regret the passing of Jigme Norbu and appreciate his work to help Tibet and the Tibetan people," Rinpoche said in a statement. Rinpoche and the TMBCC staff will be in prayer today for Norbu and his family and will release information this week regarding a pending community prayer service to honor Norbu and his work for the Tibetan people. China claims Tibet as part of its territory, but many Tibetans say Chinese rule deprives them of religious freedom. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan autonomy and fomenting anti-Chinese protests."

A woman who identified herself as the mother of the SUV driver said her son didn't want to talk to the media.
"What more is there to say? He was wearing dark clothes. It was an unfortunate accident. He hasn't been charged. That's all we're going to say," said the woman, who would not give her name."

This is a terrible and tragic news about the Dalai Lama's nephew. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Dalai Lama and his nephew's family.