Boy Drives Truck into Buddhist Procession in Thailand
An 11-year-old boy drove his parents' pickup truck into a Buddhist procession in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, killing eight monks and injuring more than 20 others, according to police and health officials. The incident happened in Mukdahan province as a group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside during a pilgrimage.
Witnesses reported that the boy took the truck without permission and lost control, crashing into the procession. Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of the Mukdahan Provincial Police, told reporters, "The suspect is a child. The vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to determine the cause." He added that the parents have been asked to come in to determine responsibility for the child's care and to proceed with the legal process.
Monk Recalls Terrifying Moment
One monk, identified as Phra Sompong, described the incident in a video posted online by local rescue workers. "I saw a boy driving a pickup truck, approaching. At that moment I was chanting 'Buddho, Buddho' (a meditation mantra). Then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us like this," he said, gesticulating. "Luckily another monk and I managed to jump out of the way in time. The first nine monks in line survived. But others who were hit were thrown into the air."
CCTV footage from a nearby property shows the monks walking along the road, multiple vehicles driving past, and then the sound of a loud crash before the procession stops. Five monks died at the scene and three more later died in hospital, police said. Four others were in critical condition, and 10 more were seriously hurt, with others being treated for lighter injuries.
Governor Calls for Road Safety Awareness
Mukdahan provincial governor Worayan Bunnarat said 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," he said. "I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen."
Deadly transport accidents are common in Thailand, which has one of the worst road safety records in the world, with speeding, drunk driving, and weak law enforcement all contributing factors. Buddhist monks are highly venerated in Thailand, entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha's teachings, and often hold public processions where they receive alms from ordinary Thais.
