A peaceful religious pilgrimage turned into tragedy in north-east Thailand after an 11-year-old boy driving his parents’ pickup truck crashed into a procession of Buddhist monks, leaving nine dead and several others fighting for their lives.
Nine Buddhist monks have died after an 11-year-old boy driving his parents’ pickup truck crashed into a religious procession in Thailand’s north-eastern Mukdahan province.
Police said the group, made up of 35 monks and five lay followers, was walking along a road during a pilgrimage when the pickup truck veered into the procession.
Five monks died at the scene, while four others later died in hospital from their injuries. Several more monks remain hospitalized, with three reported to be in critical condition.
Images and videos shared online showed saffron robes, bags and personal belongings scattered across the roadside, alongside the badly damaged pickup truck.
According to police, the boy allegedly took the vehicle without his parents’ permission before losing control and crashing into the group.
Authorities are still investigating what caused the crash and how the legal process will proceed because the driver is a minor.
“The suspect is a child. The vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to determine the cause,” Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa said.
He later told BBC Thai that the boy is currently under the care of officials, his guardians and a doctor.
Thaiphutsa added that preliminary information suggests the child has special needs, although no further details have been released.
Mukdahan Hospital has appealed to the public for urgent blood donations as doctors continue treating the injured monks.
Health officials said at least five monks suffered serious injuries, while several others are receiving treatment for less severe wounds.
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One of the surviving monks, Phra Sompong, recalled the terrifying moment the vehicle struck the procession.
“I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho’ when I saw a boy driving a pickup truck approaching,” he said.
“Then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us.”
He said he and another monk managed to jump out of the way just in time.
“Luckily another monk and I managed to jump out of the way in time,” he said.
“The first nine monks in line survived, but others who were hit were thrown into the air.”
Police said their initial investigation found that the boy had stayed home from school because he was unwell and was alone in the house before taking the vehicle.
His guardians later discovered the pickup truck was missing and immediately alerted the police.
Buddhist monks hold a deeply respected place in Thai society, where they are regarded as custodians of the Buddha’s teachings. Religious pilgrimages and public processions are common across the country, with many people offering food and other necessities to monks as acts of generosity and faith.
Mukdahan Governor Worayan Bunnarat described the incident as a painful reminder of the importance of road safety.
“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.”
Police say investigations are continuing as authorities work to determine exactly how the crash happened while supporting the victims, their families and the injured monks.
