A vehicle struck a group of Buddhist monks participating in a religious procession in Mukdahan, a town in Thailand’s north-east region, resulting in the deaths of at least nine monks. The incident occurred when an 11-year-old child took his parents’ pickup truck without authorization and operated it for approximately 6 miles before losing control of the vehicle. Surveillance footage captured the moment the monks, dressed in orange robes, were struck as they walked along a road as part of a pilgrimage between two temples in the region.
According to local authorities, the procession consisted of 34 Buddhist monks and five lay followers traveling from a temple in Mukdahan province to another location in neighboring Ubon Ratchathani province. Official reports indicated that five monks died at the scene, three died subsequently in hospital care, and a ninth fatality was confirmed by the provincial office. At least three additional monks sustained critical injuries, and images from the location showed injured individuals and scattered belongings across the road.
Thailand has a predominantly Buddhist population, with more than 93 percent of residents following the religion. Buddhist monks hold significant cultural standing in Thai society, with public transportation systems encouraging passengers to offer seats to monks alongside elderly and pregnant travelers. Public religious processions conducted by monks are common occurrences in the country.
Police authorities stated they had not filed charges against the child while investigations continued to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Officers were unable to question the boy at the time due to his state of shock and inability to provide statements. Provincial officials acknowledged that Thailand experiences frequent deadly transportation accidents, citing speeding, impaired driving, and inconsistent law enforcement as contributing factors to the country’s poor road safety record overall.
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