An 11-year-old boy has driven his parents' pickup truck into a Buddhist procession in Mukdahan, northeastern Thailand, killing at least nine monks. The incident occurred shortly before 11am local time on Thursday, as captured on CCTV footage shared by a local rescue group.
The governor of Mukdahan province, Vorayan Bunarat, said a group of 34 Buddhist monks and five lay followers were on a pilgrimage between temples. Five monks died at the scene, three in hospital, and a ninth later succumbed to injuries. At least three others are critically injured.
Police reported that the boy took the truck without permission and drove about 6 miles (10km) before losing control and crashing into the procession. No charges have been filed as investigators work to establish the circumstances. The boy remains in shock and unable to provide a statement.
Buddhist monks are highly venerated in Thailand, where over 93% of the population are followers. The country has one of the worst road safety records globally, with speeding, drink-driving, and weak enforcement contributing to frequent deadly accidents.
Governor Bunarat urged stricter road safety measures, stating, 'This case should be a lesson... I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen.'
