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Nine Buddhist monks were killed and several others in their procession injured when they were hit by an 11-year-old boy driving his parents’ pickup truck in north-east Thailand, police said.<\/b><\/p>\n
The group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a road in Mukdahan province during a pilgrimage when the incident occurred.<\/p>\n
Footage posted online shows saffron robes and belongings scattered by the roadside, and a wrecked vehicle. Five of the monks died at the scene and four others later in hospital, according to police.<\/p>\n
They said the boy took the pickup without permission before losing control and crashing into the monks, according to Agence France-Presse. <\/p>\n
Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa said they were still determining the legal process for the boy going forward. <\/p>\n
“The suspect is a child. The vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to determine the cause,” he said.<\/p>\n
Later, Thaiputsa told BBC Thai the boy was still being cared for by a team of officials, including his guardians and his doctor. <\/p>\n
Preliminary information indicates that he is a child with special needs, but no further details are available yet, Thaiputsa said. <\/p>\n
Mukdahan Hospital has appealed for urgent blood donations to help the injured monks.<\/p>\n
Three monks remain in a critical condition and at least five others were seriously hurt. More are being treated for lighter injuries, health authorities said. <\/p>\n
Phra Sompong, who was a monk in the group, said he was chanting the meditation mantra “Buddho, Buddho” before the crash happened. <\/p>\n
“I saw a boy driving a pickup truck approaching … then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us,” he said in a video posted online by local rescue workers.<\/p>\n
“Luckily another monk and I managed to jump out of the way in time.<\/p>\n
“The first nine monks in line survived, but others who were hit were thrown into the air.”<\/p>\n
Buddhist monks are highly respected in Thailand as they are entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha’s teachings.<\/p>\n
Public processions are not uncommon, with members of the public often giving monks alms of goodwill – such as food and basic necessities – as a sign of respect.<\/p>\n
Police further said initial inquiries have found that no one was home before the incident except the child suspect, who did not go to school because he was unwell. <\/p>\n
When the boy’s guardians realised the car was missing they notified police.<\/p>\n
Mukdahan provincial governor Worayan Bunnarat said the case should serve as a wider warning for road safety in Thailand.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been very strict on road safety in recent years. This case should be a lesson not just for our province, but for the public in general when it comes to preventing road accidents,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n