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Boy Drives Truck Into Thai Monks' Procession, Killing at Least Nine
An 11-year-old boy took his parents' pickup truck without permission and drove it into a Buddhist procession in Mukdahan province, killing at least nine monks and injuring others. Police have not filed charges while they investigate the circumstances.
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An 11-year-old boy drove his parents' pickup truck into a Buddhist procession in Thailand's Mukdahan province on Thursday, killing at least nine monks and injuring several others. m. local time showed the monks in orange robes being struck as they walked along a road.
The boy had taken the vehicle without permission and driven it about six miles before losing control.
The procession included 34 monks and five lay followers traveling from a temple in Mukdahan to another temple in neighboring Ubon Ratchathani province. Five monks died at the scene and three died later in hospital, with a ninth death confirmed by the provincial office.
At least three others remain critically injured. Police said the boy remained in shock and has not yet been questioned. No charges have been filed as investigators continue to determine how the crash occurred.
Thailand has one of the world's highest rates of road fatalities, with speeding, drink-driving and weak enforcement cited as major factors. Officials described the incident as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance on road safety.
