An 11-year-old boy drove a pickup truck and crashed into a group of monks walking along the roadside on a pilgrimage, resulting in the deaths of 8 monks and leaving another 13 injured.
The accident occurred at 11:55 a.m. local time on Thursday (2nd) in the Nasi Nuang area of Mueang District, Mukdahan Province, Thailand, on a main road.
According to Thai media reports, 8 monks died in the accident, and the remaining 13 injured monks have been sent to the hospital for treatment.
Police confirmed that the involved vehicle was a bronze Isuzu pickup truck, which was being driven by an 11-year-old boy.
According to reports, the pilgrimage group consisted of 34 monks, who were walking from Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani Province.
A police officer, who happened to pass by the scene, said that at first, he thought it was an emergency drill. Once he realized it was a major traffic accident, he immediately assisted in coordinating local police, hospitals, and rescue personnel to carry out rescue operations.
At present, police have taken the boy involved to the Mueang District Police Station in Mukdahan. Investigators are verifying the specific causes of the accident, and the relevant investigation is ongoing.