An 11-year-old boy crashed a truck into a group of monks on a pilgrimage in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, killing nine and injuring 13, officials said.
35 monks from Mukdahan province, about 600 kilometers northeast of the capital Bangkok, were on the trip. Five monks died on the spot, and three died in hospital, according to Mukdahan Governor Worrayan Boonnarat. The office later announced the death of a ninth monk.
13 were hospitalized, three are in critical condition, according to the provincial administration.
The group started the 260-kilometer journey to Ubon Ratchathani province about 30 minutes before the accident.
Security camera footage shared by a local rescue group, the Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Association, shows the monks walking in a single line on the side of the road before the truck crashed into them.
Local police said the boy is now in custody and will be questioned when child protection officers arrive.
The police said they are still investigating the cause of the accident, but they said they were told by the monks that they saw the car swerving before it left the road and hit a group.
Phu Manorom Temple by AP
“I saw a boy driving a truck, coming. At that time I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho’ (a meditation mantra),” said another monk, identified as Phra Sompong, in a video posted online by local rescuers.
“Suddenly, a truck hit us at high speed and smashed us like this,” he said shaking his head.
“Fortunately, I and another monk were able to get out of the way in time,” he added.
“The first nine monks in line survived. But the others who were hit were thrown into the air.”
The video shows the monks walking before the crash
CCTV footage from a nearby area shows monks walking down the street, several cars passing by and the sound of a loud crash before the procession stops.
Police said the boy had taken his parents’ truck without permission before he lost control and hit the monks.
“The suspect is a child. The car has been taken for examination to determine the cause,” said Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, who is the police commander of Mukdahan province, told the media.
“We have asked the parents of the child to come in so that we can find out who is responsible for taking care of the child, so that we can continue with the laws,” he added.
Prayut Ruanthongkam, Mukdahan city police chief, told AFP by phone that the child was an 11-year-old boy.
Buddhist monks are highly respected in Thailand, entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha’s teachings.
They often hold public processions and are widely seen receiving gifts of kindness from ordinary Thais.
The governor of Mukdahan province, Worayan Bunnarat, said that this case should be a broad warning about road safety.
Fatal transport accidents are common in Thailand, which has the world’s worst road safety record, with high speeds, drunk driving and lax enforcement all contributing factors.
“We have been very strict on road safety in the past years, this case must be a lesson not only in our province, but also for the general public when it comes to avoiding road accidents,” he said.
“I think everyone involved, especially the parents, needs to help, because nobody wants something like this.”
