Eight Thai monks killed after 11-year-old boy drives truck into procession
A boy driving a pickup truck without permission struck a group of 35 monks, resulting in eight deaths and multiple critical injuries. Authorities have seized the vehicle and are investigating the incident.
The collision took place in Mukdahan province, located approximately 600 kilometers from the capital, Bangkok.
The victims were part of a pilgrimage group consisting of 35 monks and five lay followers. The group had departed roughly 30 minutes before the collision, traveling along a roadside on a planned 260-kilometer journey between a temple in Mukdahan and a destination in the neighboring Ubon Ratchathani province. The incident occurred near Ban Na Wiang Kae in the Na Si Nuan subdistrict of Mueang district.
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According to Major General Pairoj Thaiphutra, the Mukdahan provincial police chief, the boy took his parents' bronze Isuzu single-cab pickup truck from the family home without permission. He drove approximately 10 kilometers before losing control of the vehicle. Some reports describe the child as having special needs. Police indicated that while the investigation remains in its early stages, monks who survived the encounter reported seeing the truck lose balance and swerve before it ultimately veered off the road and collided with the procession.
Phra Sompong, a monk who witnessed the event, described his experience while reciting the meditation mantra, "Buddho, Buddho."
"I saw a boy driving a pickup truck approaching ... then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us,"
Phra Sompong, monk in the procession, via local rescue workers
Phra Sompong stated that he and one other companion managed to jump out of the way, while the first nine monks in the line survived the impact. Others, however, were struck and thrown into the air. CCTV footage from a nearby property recorded the sound of the crash and the abrupt end of the procession, which had been walking in a single file along the road.
Five of the monks were pronounced dead at the scene, and three others succumbed to their injuries after being transported to Mukdahan Hospital. Health authorities and provincial officials confirmed that a significant number of others were injured. While figures on the total number of wounded vary across reports—ranging from 14 to more than 20 individuals—medical officials confirmed that four monks remain in critical condition, with at least 10 others suffering from serious injuries.
The Mukdahan Hospital has since issued an appeal for urgent blood donations to assist those undergoing treatment. The suspected vehicle has been seized by authorities for forensic examination to assist in determining the exact cause of the crash.
Major General Pairoj Thaiphutra noted that the boy is currently in police custody, though no formal charges have been filed. Officers have been unable to conduct a formal interview with the child, who remains in a state of shock. Police have summoned the boy's parents to the local station to establish responsibilities regarding his care and to progress the legal investigation.
The tragedy has prompted broader concern regarding transport safety in Thailand. Mukdahan provincial governor Worayan Bunnarat emphasized that the incident should serve as a warning to the public.
"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,"
Worayan Bunnarat, Mukdahan provincial governor, via press conference
Officials have long identified high rates of traffic accidents in the region, often attributing them to speeding, drunk driving, and inconsistent law enforcement. As the investigation continues, authorities are awaiting the arrival of state child protection officers to oversee the questioning of the young driver.
