An 11-year-old boy allegedly took his parents’ pickup truck without permission and crashed into a group of Buddhist monks walking along a road in northeastern Thailand, killing nine and injuring 13 others.
The horrifying crash happened Thursday in Mukdahan province, about 370 miles northeast of Bangkok.
A group of 35 monks had begun a 160-mile pilgrimage to Ubon Ratchathani province only about 30 minutes before the pickup slammed into them.
Five monks died at the scene, while three others later died at a hospital, according to Mukdahan Governor Worrayan Boonnarat. Officials later confirmed that a ninth monk had also died.
Thirteen other monks were hospitalized, including three who remained in critical condition.
Security footage shared by the Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Association showed the monks walking in a single-file line along the side of the road moments before the crash.
Video from another nearby property showed several vehicles passing the group before the sound of a violent impact brought the procession to an abrupt stop.
Police said witnesses saw the pickup swerving before it left the road and slammed into the monks.
One survivor, identified as Phra Sompong, said he noticed a young boy behind the wheel as the truck approached.
“I saw a boy driving a pickup truck, approaching,” he said in a video shared by local rescuers. “At that moment I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho.’”
The Buddhist phrase is commonly used as a meditation mantra.
“Then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us like this,” he continued. “Luckily another monk and I managed to jump out of the way in time.”
Sompong said the first nine monks in the line escaped injury, but others were struck with such force that they were thrown into the air.
Police said the child had taken his parents’ truck without their permission before losing control and crashing into the group.
The boy was taken into custody and was expected to be questioned once state child protection officers arrived.
“The suspect is a child,” Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of the Mukdahan Provincial Police, told reporters.
Authorities seized the pickup for forensic testing as investigators work to determine exactly what caused the crash.
Police also asked the boy’s parents to come in for questioning so officials could establish who was responsible for supervising him and decide how to move forward with the legal process.
Prayut Ruanthongkam, chief of Mukdahan City Police, confirmed that the driver was an 11-year-old boy.
Buddhist monks are deeply respected throughout Thailand and are often seen walking in public processions or receiving food and other offerings from local residents.
Mukdahan Governor Worayan Bunnarat said the tragedy should serve as a warning about road safety and parental responsibility.
“I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen,” he said.
Thailand has one of the world’s worst road-safety records, with speeding, drunk driving and weak enforcement frequently blamed for deadly crashes.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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