An 11-year-old boy drove his parents' pickup truck into a Buddhist procession in Mukdahan, Thailand, on Thursday, killing nine monks and critically injuring three others.
The incident occurred shortly before 11 a. m.
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local time in the northeastern town, about 400 miles from Bangkok. The boy took the vehicle without permission and drove for approximately 6 miles before losing control.
Mukdahan Governor Vorayan Bunarat reported that five monks died at the scene, three passed away in the hospital, and a ninth fatality was later confirmed.
The group consisted of 34 monks and five lay followers on a pilgrimage.
“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,” Bunarat said.
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The governor emphasized the role of families and communities in preventing such tragedies during public religious activities.
“I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen,” he added.
Provincial Police Chief Maj. Gen.
Pairoj Thaiphutra stated that no formal charges have been filed yet.
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Investigators are still determining the circumstances of the crash, and the child remains too traumatized to provide a statement.
