Nine Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 others injured after an 11-year-old boy crashed a stolen pickup truck into their procession in northeastern Thailand, police reported on Thursday.
Details of the Incident
The boy, driving his parents' vehicle, plowed into a group of 35 monks and five followers approximately 600 km northeast of Bangkok. The group was on a pilgrimage from a temple in Mukdahan to another in Ubon Ratchathani province when the incident occurred, Gov. Vorayan Bunarat said at a press conference.
Five monks died at the scene, and four more succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Twenty-two additional monks, four of whom are in critical condition, and one follower were also injured, according to authorities.
Investigation and Aftermath
Maj.-Gen. Pairoj Thaiphutra, the Mukdahan provincial police chief, said the boy stole the truck from his family home and drove it 10 km before hitting the procession. No charges have been filed yet, and the investigation is focusing on the lead-up to the incident. Local authorities said the boy has special needs.
Thaiphutra added that the boy had not been questioned because he was in a state of shock and unable to provide a statement. He is in custody, and protective services will monitor him during follow-up interviews.
The group of monks and followers had started their 260-km walk to the temple in Ubon Ratchathani about 30 minutes before the crash. Police said witnesses saw the vehicle swerving before leaving the road and hitting the group.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
