Mukdahan: An 11-year-old boy drove a stolen pickup truck into a group of 34 Buddhist monks in Mukdahan province, resulting in the deaths of eight monks.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred at approximately 11:00 AM when a gold-colored pickup truck with Mukdahan license plates struck the monks as they walked along the roadside on the Mukdahan-Don Tan road, near Ban Na Wiang Kae, Na Si Nuan Subdistrict, Mueang District. The monks were on their way from Mukdahan city towards Ubon Ratchathani Province. The collision led to the immediate deaths of five monks, while seven others sustained serious injuries and around 20 suffered minor injuries. Three additional monks succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, raising the death toll to eight.
The vehicle was found to have been driven by an 11-year-old boy, who had taken his father's car without permission and was driving towards Mukdahan city when the accident happened.
Police Lieutenant Theera Kaewnet, a highway patrol officer, was an eyewitness to the tragic event. He initially mistook the scene for a training exercise but quickly realized the gravity of the situation. Lieutenant Kaewnet then coordinated with local police, hospitals, and rescue teams to provide the necessary assistance.