Nine Buddhist monks have been killed and more than 20 other people injured after an 11-year-old boy driving a pickup truck crashed into a religious pilgrimage procession in north-eastern Thailand, authorities said. The tragedy has renewed concerns over road safety in a country that continues to record one of the world’s highest traffic fatality rates.

BANGKOK, Thailand — Nine Buddhist monks have been killed after an 11-year-old boy driving a pickup truck crashed into a religious pilgrimage in north-eastern Thailand, authorities said, in one of the country’s deadliest road incidents involving worshippers in recent years. More than 20 other people were injured, several of them critically.

The crash occurred on Thursday morning in Mukdahan province, about 600 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, where 35 monks accompanied by five lay followers had begun a religious pilgrimage to neighbouring Ubon Ratchathani province. The group had been walking for only about 30 minutes when the pickup truck left the road and struck the procession.

Police said the vehicle had been taken by an 11-year-old boy without his parents’ permission. Investigators believe the child lost control before crashing into the group.

Five monks died at the scene while four others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine. Emergency medical teams transported more than 20 injured people to Mukdahan Hospital, where doctors appealed for blood donations as they treated those with life-threatening injuries.

Images released by emergency responders showed medical teams carrying injured monks into hospital while police secured the crash scene and examined the heavily damaged pickup truck.

Security camera footage reviewed by investigators appeared to show the monks walking in single file along the roadside moments before the pickup truck veered into the procession. Authorities have seized the vehicle as part of a forensic investigation into the collision.

One surviving monk, identified as Phra Sompong, described the moments before the impact.

“I saw a boy driving a pickup truck approaching. At that moment I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho’. Then suddenly the truck hit us at full speed,” he said.

Police investigation continues

Mukdahan Provincial Police commander Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa said the child was being cared for by child protection officials while investigators determine how the case should proceed.

Authorities are also examining how the boy obtained access to the vehicle and whether any adults may bear legal responsibility. Under Thai law, children younger than 12 cannot be held criminally liable, meaning the investigation is expected to focus on child welfare measures and possible parental or guardian responsibility where appropriate.

Mukdahan Governor Worayan Bunnarat described the incident as a tragedy and urged motorists to exercise greater caution.

“We’ve been very strict on road safety in recent years. This case should be a lesson not just for our province but for the public in general,” he said.

Why were the monks walking?

Pilgrimage walks remain an important part of Theravada Buddhist practice in Thailand, where monks often travel on foot between temples and provinces as an act of spiritual devotion.

Along the route, local residents traditionally offer food, water and other necessities to the monks, making the journeys important religious and community events. Because many routes pass through rural highways and village roads, organisers depend on motorists slowing down and exercising extra caution when approaching processions.

The monks involved in Thursday’s procession had embarked on a pilgrimage of about 260 kilometres before the collision occurred.

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Thailand’s road safety challenge

The tragedy has renewed attention on Thailand’s road safety record.

According to the World Health Organization, Thailand has consistently recorded one of the highest road traffic fatality rates in the world. Despite stricter enforcement campaigns in recent years, speeding, unsafe driving, motorcycle crashes and poor compliance with traffic regulations continue to contribute to thousands of deaths annually.

Road safety experts have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement, improved driver education and greater public awareness to reduce preventable road deaths.

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Quick Facts

Topic	Information
Location	Mukdahan Province, Thailand
Distance from Bangkok	About 600 km
Religious procession	35 monks and 5 lay followers
Deaths	9 monks
Injured	More than 20 people
Driver	11-year-old boy
Investigation	Ongoing

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Why this matters

The crash is both a national tragedy and a reminder of the risks faced by religious communities using public roads. It also highlights broader concerns over child access to vehicles and road safety in Thailand, where traffic accidents remain a major public health challenge despite years of government efforts to reduce fatalities.

For many Buddhists across Thailand and neighbouring countries, pilgrimage walks are acts of faith that have been practised for generations. Thursday’s collision has therefore resonated not only because of the high death toll, but also because it struck at the heart of an important religious tradition.

Authorities said forensic examinations of the pickup truck, witness interviews and inquiries into how the child obtained access to the vehicle are continuing.

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Explainer: Buddhist Pilgrimage Walks

Why do Buddhist monks walk long distances?

• Pilgrimages are an important part of Theravada Buddhist tradition.
• Monks often walk between temples over several days or weeks.
• Local communities offer food, water and other necessities along the route.
• The journeys symbolise discipline, humility and spiritual devotion.
• Organisers rely on motorists exercising caution when processions use public roads.