Thailand Disaster Kills Nine Monks After 11-Year-Old Boy Crashes Truck Into Procession
Deadly Crash Hits Monk Procession
In a Thailand disaster, an 11-year-old boy drove his parents’ pickup truck into a Buddhist monk procession in Thailand’s Mukdahan province on Thursday, killing nine monks and injuring around 13 others. [1] A group of 34-35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside during a 260-kilometer pilgrimage from Ubon Ratchathani to Mukdahan when the crash occurred at 11:55 a.m. [3] Five monks died at the scene, three more died in hospital, and a ninth monk’s death was announced later by provincial authorities. [1] The boy, described as having special needs, took the vehicle without permission, drove about 10 km, lost control, and struck the group. [2] Children under 12 have no criminal liability in Thailand. [1]
Survivor’s Account of the Impact
One surviving monk, identified as Phra Sompong, described seeing the truck approach at full speed while chanting and said those hit were thrown into the air. [1] “I saw a boy driving a pickup truck, approaching. At that moment I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho’ (a meditation mantra),” he said in a video posted online by local rescue workers. [1] “Then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us,” he added. [4] “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.” [1] CCTV footage captured the monks walking before a loud crash. [5] The monks were walking in a line along the roadside when the vehicle veered toward them. [4]
Details on the Young Driver
The boy took his parents’ pickup truck without permission and drove about 10 km before losing control. [2] He remains in shock and cannot be questioned, and children under 12 have no criminal liability in Thailand. [1] Police are conducting forensic examination of the vehicle and have called in the boy’s parents to determine responsibility for his care and proceed with legal process. [1] “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, told reporters. [1] “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,” he added. [5] The boy’s mother called police after discovering he had taken the vehicle, but officers were unable to intercept it before the crash. [3]
Casualties and Injured Monks
Five monks died at the scene, three more died in hospital, and a ninth monk’s death was announced later by provincial authorities. [2] The nine deceased monks have been identified as Phra Samruay Rawang, Phra Sakda Sila, Phra Chaison Nantasing, Phra Ratchata Thongburan, Phra Khamsing Chailert, Phra Yothin Wannasri, Phra Yut Phongwiset, Phra Nikhom Angkab and Phra Surasak Pinla-or. [3] Health authorities had earlier said four monks were in a critical condition and 10 others were seriously hurt, while more were being treated for lighter injuries. [1] Thirteen people were injured in total, including 12 monks and one layman, with three seriously injured monks remaining in hospital. [3]
Pilgrimage Context and Road Safety Warning
A group of 34-35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside during a 260-kilometer pilgrimage from Ubon Ratchathani to Mukdahan when the crash occurred. [1] The monks had taken a meal at Wat Roi Phra Phutthabat Phu Manorom and then resumed their pilgrimage on foot toward Don Tan district. [3] Buddhist monks are highly venerated in Thailand, entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha’s teachings. [1] Mukdahan Governor Worayan Bunnarat said the case should serve as a wider warning on road safety in a country with one of the world’s worst records. [1] “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,” said the governor. [5] “I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen.” [1]
Video and Investigation Status
CCTV footage from a nearby property shows the monks walking along the road with multiple vehicles driving past before the sound of a loud crash is heard. [1] Police said the boy had taken his parents’ pickup truck without permission before losing control of the vehicle and crashing into the monks. [5] “The suspect is a child. The vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to determine the cause,” Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa told reporters. [4] Officers have not yet been able to question the boy because he remains in a state of shock. [2] The investigation continues with forensic analysis of the Isuzu pickup truck. [3]
What to watch next: Police will continue the forensic examination of the vehicle and work with the boy’s parents to determine responsibility for his care as the legal process moves forward.
