At least eight Buddhist monks have died and around 10 others were injured after a pickup truck allegedly driven by an 11-year-old boy ploughed into a group of monks taking part in a religious pilgrimage in northeastern Thailand.
The fatal incident took place around noon on July 2 along a roadside in the Mueang district of Mukdahan province. Authorities said the monks were participating in a walking pilgrimage when the vehicle veered into the procession.
According to local reports, a total of 35 monks were travelling together at the time of the crash. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the vehicle struck multiple members of the group, leaving victims scattered across the roadway and nearby roadside areas.
Child Allegedly Took Vehicle Without Permission
Thai police said preliminary investigations indicate that the pickup truck had been driven by an 11-year-old boy who allegedly took the vehicle without his parents’ permission.
Investigators believe the child lost control of the vehicle before it slammed into the religious procession. The exact circumstances that led to the collision remain under investigation.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after receiving reports of the crash. Five monks were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others later succumbed to their injuries after being transported to hospital.
Several of the injured monks were reported to be in critical condition and were rushed to nearby medical facilities for emergency treatment.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have detained the boy as part of ongoing investigations into the incident.
Police are working to determine how the child gained access to the vehicle and whether any additional factors contributed to the crash.
The accident has shocked communities across Thailand, where Buddhist monks are highly respected and religious pilgrimages remain an important spiritual practice for many followers.
Images circulating online showed the aftermath of the collision, with emergency personnel attending to victims and securing the area as rescue efforts continued.
Officials have yet to release the identities of the deceased monks, while investigations into the tragedy remain ongoing.