11-Year-Old Behind Wheel: Eight Monks Killed in Thailand Road Tragedy

In a tragic incident that has shocked northeastern Thailand, an 11-year-old boy driving a pickup truck crashed into a group of monks on a pilgrimage walk on Thursday, killing eight monks and injuring 14 others, officials said.

The accident took place in Mukdahan province, around 600 km from Bangkok, where a group of 35 monks from the region were undertaking a religious pilgrimage on foot. According to authorities, five monks died at the scene , while three others succumbed to their injuries in hospital , Mukdahan Governor Worrayan Boonnarat confirmed.

Local police have taken the boy into custody, and an investigation is underway into how he came to be behind the wheel of the vehicle. Officials have not yet clarified who owned the pickup truck or how the child gained access to it , nor have they confirmed whether he was driving alone at the time of the crash.

The police said preliminary information from witnesses suggests the vehicle may have lost balance or control before veering off the road and hitting the group of monks , but the exact cause remains under investigation.

Authorities are also examining the broader circumstances surrounding the incident, including possible lapses in supervision and vehicle security , given the driver’s age.

The incident has left the local community in deep shock, with grieving families and monastic communities mourning the loss of lives during what was meant to be a peaceful religious journey.

Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.