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Eight Buddhist monks were killed and 26 others injured when a boy who was driving his dad’s pick-up truck crashed into them this morning.
The religious figures were walking in single file in a group of 34 along the roadside when the bronze Isuzu ploughed through them in Mukdahan, northeast Thailand, just before noon.
Footage from the aftermath shows the monks in their distinctive orange robes scattered across the ground.
At least eight were pronounced dead at the scene while another 14 were rushed to the hospital wth critical injuries.
Police said that the boy was taken into custody while they investigate how he came to be driving the vehicle. They were also searching for his relatives.
Lieutenant Theera Kaewnet said: ‘Upon arriving at the scene, I found a large number of monks lying on the road and by the roadside.
‘At first, I thought it was a contingency drill, but when I went down to inspect, I realised it was an actual accident, so I quickly coordinated with local police officers, rescuers and the hospital to urgently assist the injured.’
Police said the monks had been walking across the province as part of a pilgrimage to a religious site.
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