A peaceful Buddhist pilgrimage in northeastern Thailand turned tragic on Thursday after an 11-year-old boy allegedly drove his parents’ pickup truck into a procession of monks, killing eight and injuring at least 10 others.
The fatal incident occurred in Mukdahan Province, where a group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside during a religious pilgrimage.
According to police, five monks died at the scene, while three others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Health officials said four monks remain in critical condition at Mukdahan Hospital, while several others are being treated for serious and minor injuries.
One of the surviving monks, identified as Phra Sompong, recounted the terrifying moments before the crash.
“I saw a boy driving a pickup truck, approaching. At that moment I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho,’” he said in a video shared online by local rescue workers.
“Then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us like this. Luckily another monk and I managed to jump out of the way in time,” he added.
He said the first nine monks in the procession escaped the impact, but those behind them were struck by the speeding vehicle.
“The others who were hit were thrown into the air,” he said.
CCTV footage from a nearby property captured the monks walking along the roadside moments before the collision. Several vehicles are seen passing normally before a loud crash brings the procession to an abrupt halt.
Mukdahan Provincial Police Chief Major General Pairoj Thaiphutra said preliminary investigations indicate the boy, who has special needs, took his parents’ pickup truck without permission and drove approximately 10 kilometres before losing control and crashing into the group.
“The driver, an 11-year-old boy with special needs, took the pickup truck from his family home and drove about 10 kilometres before hitting the group of monks,” Pairoj told reporters.
He said the vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to help determine the exact cause of the crash.
Police have also summoned the child’s parents as investigators seek to establish who was responsible for supervising him before the incident.
“We’ve asked the child’s parents to come in so we can determine who is responsible for the child’s care, so we can go on with the legal process,” Pairoj said.
No charges have been filed so far as investigations continue. Authorities said they have not yet been able to interview the boy because he remains in a state of shock.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves across Thailand, where Buddhist monks are deeply respected for preserving and teaching the Buddha’s teachings. Public processions and alms-giving ceremonies are common religious practices across the country.
Mukdahan Provincial Governor Worayan Bunnarat said the incident should serve as a reminder of the importance of road safety and parental responsibility.
“We’ve been very strict on road safety in recent years. This case should be a lesson not just for our province, but for the public in general when it comes to preventing road accidents,” he said.
“I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen.”
Thailand continues to record one of the world’s highest rates of road traffic fatalities, with speeding, drunk driving and weak enforcement of traffic laws frequently cited as major contributing factors.
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