11-Year-Old Boy Drives Truck Into Pilgrimage Procession in Thailand, Killing 9 Monks

In Thailand, an 11-year-old boy who took his parents' pickup truck without permission struck a procession of monks, leaving 9 dead and over 20 injured.

According to reports from AFP, AP, and other news agencies on July 3 (local time), the pickup truck driven by the 11-year-old boy, identified as A, veered off the road and plowed into the pilgrimage procession in Mukdahan Province, northeastern Thailand, the previous day.

Thai police stated that 9 monks were killed and 23 others were injured in the accident.

Five victims died at the scene, while the remaining four passed away after being transported to a hospital.

Four of the injured are in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll could rise further.

At the time of the incident, 35 monks and 5 laypeople were on a pilgrimage from a temple in Mukdahan Province to another temple in Ubon Ratchathani Province.

One monk who was at the scene told rescue workers, "I saw a pickup truck approaching, driven by a young boy," adding, "Suddenly, the truck accelerated and rammed into us."

He added, "Fortunately, another monk and I were able to dodge in time. The monks at the very front of the procession survived, but the others were thrown into the air."

It was determined that the boy had taken the pickup truck from his home without his parents' knowledge and drove for about 10 kilometers before losing control of the vehicle, leading to the accident.

"The suspect is a minor," said Pairot Thaiputsa, the police chief of Mukdahan Province. "We have seized the vehicle for forensic analysis to determine the exact cause of the accident."

He added, "To proceed with legal steps, we must verify who holds parental responsibility for the boy, and we have summoned his parents to appear."

Thai police stated that they have detained the boy but have not been able to conduct a proper interrogation as he is still in a state of shock.

In Thailand, children under the age of 12 are considered below the age of criminal responsibility and are not subject to criminal punishment.

The vast majority of Thailand's population are Buddhists, and monks are generally held in high regard in society.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.