8 Monks Killed by Pickup Truck Driven by 11-Year-Old in Thailand

ILLUSTRATION PIXABAY

Eight monks were killed when an open-top van driven by an 11-year-old boy crashed into them in Mukdahan Province, northeast Thailand.

The incident occurred on Thursday (2/7) at 11 am local time on a road in the Mueang area, where a group of monks consisting of 34 people were walking on the side of the road as part of a pilgrimage from Mukdahan Province to Ubon Ratchathani Province.

Reported by ANTARA from TNA-OANA, Friday, July 3, local authorities reported that five monks were killed instantly at the scene, while three others died while being rushed to hospital. Seven monks are known to have been seriously injured, with 20 others surviving with minor injuries.

The police said the child perpetrator took away his father's open-top car without permission and was driving towards the city before hitting a group of monks in the middle of the road.

A traffic police who witnessed the post-collision situation reported that when he passed by the location of the incident, he saw a number of injured monks and local residents who were crowded.

He then coordinated with the local police, hospital, and rescue team to help the monks who were hit.

The investigation into the collision incident is still ongoing.