Eight Thai monks killed after 11-year-old drives truck into procession

Nine Buddhist monks were killed and respective others successful their procession injured erstwhile they were deed by an 11-year-old lad driving his parents' pickup motortruck successful north-east Thailand, constabulary said.

The radical of 35 monks and 5 laic followers were walking on a roadworthy successful Mukdahan state during a pilgrimage erstwhile the incidental occurred.

Footage posted online shows saffron robes and belongings scattered by the roadside, and a wrecked vehicle. Five of the monks died astatine the country and 4 others aboriginal successful hospital, according to police.

They said the lad took the pickup without support earlier losing power and crashing into the monks, according to Agence France-Presse.

Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa said they were inactive determining the ineligible process for the lad going forward.

"The fishy is simply a child. The conveyance has been taken for forensic introspection to find the cause," helium said.

Later, Thaiputsa told BBC Thai the lad was inactive being cared for by a squad of officials, including his guardians and his doctor.

Preliminary accusation indicates that helium is simply a kid with peculiar needs, but nary further details are disposable yet, Thaiputsa said.

Mukdahan Hospital has appealed for urgent humor donations to assistance the injured monks.

Three monks stay successful a captious information and astatine slightest 5 others were earnestly hurt. More are being treated for lighter injuries, wellness authorities said.

Phra Sompong, who was a monk successful the group, said helium was chanting the meditation mantra "Buddho, Buddho" earlier the clang happened.

"I saw a lad driving a pickup motortruck approaching ... past abruptly the motortruck deed astatine afloat velocity and crashed us," helium said successful a video posted online by section rescue workers.

"Luckily different monk and I managed to leap retired of the mode successful time.

"The archetypal 9 monks successful enactment survived, but others who were deed were thrown into the air."

Buddhist monks are highly respected successful Thailand arsenic they are entrusted with preserving and passing connected the Buddha's teachings.

Public processions are not uncommon, with members of the nationalist often giving monks alms of goodwill - specified arsenic nutrient and basal necessities - arsenic a motion of respect.

Police further said archetypal inquiries person recovered that nary 1 was location earlier the incidental but the kid suspect, who did not spell to schoolhouse due to the fact that helium was unwell.

When the boy's guardians realised the car was missing they notified police.

Mukdahan provincial politician Worayan Bunnarat said the lawsuit should service arsenic a wider informing for roadworthy information successful Thailand.

"We've been precise strict connected roadworthy information successful caller years. This lawsuit should beryllium a acquisition not conscionable for our province, but for the nationalist successful wide erstwhile it comes to preventing roadworthy accidents," helium said.

"I deliberation everyone involved, particularly parents, needs to help, due to the fact that nary 1 wants thing similar this to happen."