The number of monks killed in the accident in which an 11-year-old Thai boy stole a pickup truck and crashed into a group of monks has risen to 10.
Thai media reported that the tragedy occurred on Thursday (July 2) at 11:53 AM (Thai time). It is understood that the ascetic monk group consisted of 35 monks and 5 lay followers. On that morning, they departed from Phu Manorom Temple in Mukdahan Province, trekking on foot toward Nam Yuen District in Ubon Ratchathani Province, with the journey expected to take 20 days.
According to surveillance footage circulating online, the monks were walking in a single-file line along the roadside. Upon reaching the accident site, a pickup truck suddenly sped toward the group of monks.
The four monks walking at the front saw the vehicle out of control and urgently warned each other, exclaiming 'A car is coming, the car is out of control!' The first five monks managed to evade, but when it came to the sixth monk, the vehicle crashed directly into him.
The driver responsible was an 11-year-old boy, described as a child with special needs. He seized the opportunity when his family was not paying attention to steal the car keys and drive off with his father's pickup truck.
The boy's mother has made a police report. She said she was unable to stop her child from secretly driving off with the pickup truck, and called the police hotline for help to intercept the vehicle, but it was too late.
According to reports, five monks died on the spot in the accident, and another four were declared dead after being rushed to the hospital.
In addition, Thai media "PPTV HD 36" reported that according to Mukdahan Hospital's notification on Thursday night (the 3rd), a monk named Sakhon Khlangsungnoen unfortunately passed away, raising the death toll of the case to 10.