An 11-year-old boy crashed a pickup truck into a gaggle of monks on a pilgrimage stroll in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, killing 9 and injuring 13 others, officers mentioned.
A complete of 35 monks from Mukdahan province, about 600 kilometers northeast of the capital Bangkok, have been on the pilgrimage. 5 monks have been killed on the web site, whereas three others died at a hospital, in keeping with Mukdahan Governor Worrayan Boonnarat. The workplace later introduced the dying of a ninth monk.
13 have been hospitalized with three in vital situation, in keeping with the provincial administration.
The group began the 260-kilometer stroll to Ubon Ratchathani province about half-hour earlier than the crash.
Safety digital camera footage shared by a neighborhood rescue group, Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Affiliation, exhibits the monks strolling in a single line on the facet of a highway earlier than the truck crashes into them.
Native police mentioned the boy is now in custody and shall be questioned when state youngster safety officers arrive.
The police mentioned the reason for the accident remains to be below investigation, however mentioned they have been instructed by the monks that they noticed the automobile swerving earlier than it slid off the highway and crashed into the group.
Phu Manorom temple by way of AP
“I noticed a boy driving a pickup truck, approaching. At that second I used to be chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho’ (a meditation mantra),” one monk, recognized as Phra Sompong, mentioned in a video posted on-line by native rescue employees.
“Then instantly the truck hit at full velocity and crashed us like this,” he mentioned, gesticulating.
“Fortunately one other monk and I managed to leap out of the way in which in time,” he added.
“The primary 9 monks in line survived. However others who have been hit have been thrown into the air.”
Video exhibits monks strolling earlier than crash
CCTV footage from a close-by property exhibits the monks strolling alongside the highway, a number of autos driving previous after which the sound of a loud crash earlier than the procession stops.
Police mentioned the boy had taken his mother and father’ pickup truck with out permission earlier than shedding management of the automobile and crashing into the monks.
“The suspect is a baby. The automobile has been taken for forensic examination to find out the trigger,” Police Main Basic Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of the Mukdahan Provincial Police, instructed reporters.
“We have requested the kid’s mother and father to return in so we are able to decide who’s chargeable for the kid’s care, so we are able to go on with authorized course of,” he added.
Prayut Ruanthongkam, chief of Mukdahan Metropolis Police, instructed AFP by phone that the kid was a boy aged 11.
Buddhist monks are extremely honored in Thailand, entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha’s teachings.
They usually maintain public processions and are extensively seen receiving alms of goodwill from peculiar Thais.
Mukdahan provincial governor Worayan Bunnarat mentioned the case ought to function a wider warning on highway security.
Lethal transport accidents are frequent in Thailand, which has one of many worst highway security information on the planet, with dashing, drunk driving and weak legislation enforcement all contributing components.
“We have been very strict on highway security in recent times. This case needs to be a lesson not only for our province, however for the general public typically on the subject of stopping highway accidents,” he mentioned.
“I feel everybody concerned, particularly mother and father, wants to assist, as a result of nobody desires one thing like this to occur.”
