BANGKOK – A devastating traffic accident left nine Buddhist monks dead on Thursday, after an 11-year-old boy lost control of a pickup truck and struck the religious procession as they walked along a rural highway in Thailand’s northeast, local government officials confirmed.
The group of 35 monks had embarked on a multi-day walking pilgrimage from their home province of Mukdahan, located roughly 372 miles northeast of Thailand’s capital Bangkok, bound for neighboring Ubon Ratchathani province. The 161-mile journey had been underway for just 30 minutes when the collision occurred.
Initial casualty reports from the Mukdahan provincial administration note that five of the monks died instantly at the crash site, while four more succumbed to their injuries after being transported to local medical facilities. Thirteen other injured monks remain hospitalized, with three still listed in critical condition as of the latest updates.
Surveillance camera footage obtained and shared by the local Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Association captures the moments before the impact: the monks were walking in a single orderly line along the shoulder of the road when the pickup veered off course and plowed into the group. Witness accounts from surviving monks indicate the vehicle began swerving unpredictably before sliding off the roadway and hitting the procession.
Thai police have taken the 11-year-old boy into custody following the crash. Per protocol, formal questioning will not begin until representatives from Thailand’s state child protection services arrive at the station to oversee the process. Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the root cause of the tragedy, including whether mechanical failure, driver error, or other factors contributed to the crash.