Authorities said the 11-year-old took his parents’ truck before striking a roadside pilgrimage group.
BANGKOK, Thailand — An 11-year-old boy driving a pickup truck crashed into Buddhist monks on a pilgrimage walk in northeastern Thailand, killing 10 monks and injuring several others, officials said.
The crash happened Thursday in Mukdahan province, about 372 miles northeast of Bangkok. Provincial officials said 35 monks were walking from Mukdahan toward Ubon Ratchathani province when the pickup struck the group about 30 minutes into their planned 161-mile pilgrimage. The deaths rose after several monks who were rushed to a hospital later died.
Officials said five monks died at the scene and five others died at a hospital. More than 10 people were hospitalized, and one remained in critical condition after the crash, according to the provincial administration. The monks had been walking in a line along the roadside when the vehicle hit them. Authorities said the boy had taken his parents’ truck without permission before the crash.
Security video showed the monks walking along the road before the pickup approached and struck the procession. Witnesses told investigators the truck appeared to swerve before impact. The boy had driven about 6 miles from home before the crash, officials said. Police took him into custody, but authorities said he was in shock and had not yet provided a full statement.
The pilgrimage had started from Mukdahan province and was expected to continue across northeastern Thailand. Walking pilgrimages are part of Buddhist practice in the country, where monks often travel by foot and rely on support from communities along the route. The crash struck a deeply religious setting in a majority-Buddhist nation and prompted mourning across the province.
Police are investigating how the child gained access to the pickup and whether adults could face negligence-related charges. Officials have not said whether the boy was alone in the vehicle, how fast the truck was traveling or whether a mechanical problem played any role. No final cause had been released as of Friday.
Mukdahan Gov. Worayan Bunnarat said the crash showed the need for public caution and parental responsibility around vehicles. Local officials and rescue workers remained involved in the response as hospitals treated the injured. Authorities also worked to identify the dead and notify temples and families connected to the pilgrimage group.
The case remained under investigation Friday, with police reviewing video, witness accounts and the boy’s access to the truck. Officials said more updates would follow as investigators complete interviews and determine whether charges will be filed.
Author note: Last updated July 4, 2026.