An 11-year-old boy allegedly driving his parents’ pickup truck crashed into a group of Buddhist monks on a pilgrimage in north-eastern Thailand on Thursday, killing nine monks and leaving several others injured, police said.The group, made up of 35 monks and five lay followers from Mukdahan province, had begun a 260-kilometre pilgrimage to Ubon Ratchathani around 30 minutes before the crash. Five monks died at the scene, while four later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Thirteen monks were admitted to hospital, with three remaining in critical condition.Security camera footage shared by local rescue workers showed the monks walking in a single file along the roadside moments before the pickup truck veered off the road and ploughed into the procession. Police said witnesses described seeing the vehicle swerving before the impact.Authorities said the boy had allegedly taken the vehicle without his parents’ permission. He remains in custody and will be questioned in the presence of child protection officials. Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa said the vehicle had been sent for forensic examination as investigators work to establish the cause of the crash. He added that preliminary information suggested the child has special needs, but no further details were provided.
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Phra Sompong, one of the surviving monks, said he was chanting “Buddho, Buddho” when he saw the pickup approaching.”I saw a boy driving a pickup truck approaching … then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us,” he said. “Luckily another monk and I managed to jump out of the way in time.”Mukdahan Hospital has appealed for urgent blood donations for the injured, while provincial governor Worayan Bunnarat urged parents and the public to treat the tragedy as a reminder of the importance of road safety.
