At least eight monks were confirmed dead and 20 others injured after an 11-year-old boy drove his parents’ truck into a Buddhist procession in Thailand on Thursday.
The incident occured when a group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside in the northeastern Mukdahan province during a pilgrimage.
A video footage online showed the monks walking along the road with multiple vehicles driving past. There was a sound of a loud crash before the procession stopped.
Health authorities said four monks were in critically condition in Mukdahan Hospital and 10 others were seriously hurt, adding that more were under treatment for lighter injuries.
Local police, in a statement on Thursday, said the boy took his parents’ pickup truck without permission before losing control of the vehicle and crashing into the monks.
“The suspect is a child. The vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to determine the cause,” Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of the Mukdahan Provincial Police, stated.
Mr Thaiphutsa noted that they had requested the boy’s parents for questioning before proceeding with legal process.
He added, “We’ve asked the child’s parents to come in so we can determine who is responsible for the child’s care, so we can go on with legal process.”
Mukdahan provincial governor Worayan Bunnarat also said uninjured monks had been taken back to Wat Roi Phra Phutthabat Phu Manorom, adding that the case should serve as a wider warning on 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.
“I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen,” he stated.
Multiple reports said road safety in Thailand remains a critical concern despite some improvements.
While progress had been made, the country’s road fatality rate was still significantly higher than regional averages.
