11-Year-Old Boy Drives Pickup into Monk Procession in Thailand, Killing 10
In Thailand's Mukdahan province, an 11-year-old boy took his parents' pickup without permission and crashed into a procession of Buddhist monks, killing at least ten monks and injuring several others.
A tragic accident occurred in Thailand, leaving at least ten Buddhist monks dead and several others injured. On Thursday, in Mukdahan province, an 11-year-old boy, who was home alone after skipping school due to feeling unwell, took his parents' pickup truck without permission, lost control, and plowed into a group of monks.
At the time of the crash, 35 monks and five followers were on a pilgrimage. Five monks died at the scene, while the others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. Police Major General Pairoj Taiput reported that initial information suggests the boy has special needs, but further details are not yet available. The boy's guardians reported the vehicle missing to the police.
Mukdahan Hospital urgently appealed for blood donations to help the injured monks, some of whom are in critical condition. A participant in the procession said he was chanting a meditation mantra just before the crash when he saw the boy's pickup approaching. "Suddenly it accelerated at high speed and crashed into our group," he said. "Fortunately, I and another monk managed to jump aside. The first nine monks in the column survived, but the rest were thrown into the air after the impact."
Public religious processions are common in Thailand, where people often offer donations to monks as a sign of respect.
