Eight monks have died after an 11-year-old boy crashed a pickup truck into their pilgrimage walk in northeastern Thailand on Thursday.A group of 35 monks from Mukdahan province, approximately 600 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, were on the pilgrimage when the incident happened. Five monks were pronounced dead at the scene, with three others dying from their injuries later in hospital, according to Mukdahan Governor Worrayan Boonnarat.The bodies were taken to Mukdahan Hospital as officials worked to contact relatives.Fourteen additional monks were hospitalised following the collision. Local police have confirmed that the young driver is now in custody.The scene of the crash in Thailand (Udon Sawang Metha VR foundation/Nong Harn rescue team)The crash happened at roughly 11am on the Mukdahan-Don Tan Road near Ban Na Wiang Kae in Na Si Nuan subdistrict, Mueang district. The monks had just had a meal nearby, according to reports.Map of the Mukdahan province:The cause of the accident remains under investigation. However, police stated that monks present at the scene reported seeing the vehicle lose balance before it veered off the road and collided with the group. Local reporting says Pol Col Prayut Rueanthongkham, superintendent of Mueang Mukdahan Police Station, was alerted by local residents that a vehicle had hit monks walking on a pilgrimage. Rescue workers from Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue, the Mukdahan Charity Foundation, Mukdahan Hospital and police were sent to the scene.At the scene, officers found several injured monks by the roadside. Nearby was the suspected vehicle, a bronze Isuzu single-cab pickup truck.Early reports say the pickup had been taken from the boy’s family home without permission. The boy was taken to the Muang district police station for questioning.Updates as we have them
Eight monks killed after truck driven by 11-year-old boy crashes into pilgrimage walk
The monks were on a pilgrimage when the truck crashed into them
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