BANGKOK: An 11-year-old drove his parents’ truck into a Buddhist procession in Thailand on Thursday (Jul 2), killing nine monks and seriously injuring around 10 others, police and local authorities said.
A group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside in the northeastern Mukdahan province during a pilgrimage when the incident occurred.
“I saw a boy driving a pickup truck, approaching. At that moment I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho’ (a meditation mantra),” one monk, identified as Phra Sompong, said in a video posted online by local rescue workers.
“Then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed us like this,” he said.
“Luckily another monk and I managed to jump out of the way in time,” he added.
“The first nine monks in line survived. But others who were hit were thrown into the air.”
Police said five monks died at the scene and three more in hospital. The Mukdahan provincial office later announced the death of a ninth monk.
Health authorities had earlier said four monks were in a critical condition and 10 others were seriously hurt, while more were being treated for lighter injuries.
Buddhist monks are highly venerated in Thailand, entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha’s teachings.
They often hold public processions and are widely seen receiving alms of goodwill from ordinary Thais.
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