Thailand: 8 Buddhist monks killed after pickup driven by 11-year-old crashes into pilgrims

4 min readBangkokUpdated: Jul 2, 2026 08:18 PM IST

The vehicle involved in the crash that killed 8 monks in Thailand. (Photo: Reuters)

Eight Buddhist monks were killed, and 22 others were injured on Thursday when a pickup truck driven by an 11-year-old boy crashed into a group of pilgrims walking through Thailand’s northeastern Mukdahan province, officials said.

The victims were among 34 monks and five lay followers from Mukdahan taking part in a 260-kilometre religious walk to a temple in Ubon Ratchathani province, roughly 600 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, according to Mukdahan Governor Worayan Bunnarat.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. Emergency medical personnel work at the site of a crash by a vehicle driven by an 11-year-old boy into a group of Buddhist monks along the roadside in Mukdahan, Thailand, July 2, 2026. (Photo: Ruamjai Mukdahan Rescue/via REUTERS)

Five monks died at the scene, and three more succumbed to injuries later in hospital, the governor said at a press conference. Twenty-two other monks and one layperson were also hurt in the crash; 14 of the injured were hospitalised, four of them in critical condition. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Mukdahan Hospital as officials worked to notify relatives.

Major General Pairoj Thaiphutra said the young driver had taken the pickup truck from his family’s home and driven about 10 kilometres before ploughing into the procession of monks. Police described the boy as having special needs but gave no further details.

Viewer discretion advised: This video contains disturbing visuals

🇹🇭 An 11-year-old in northeastern Thailand drove his parents’ pickup truck into a single line procession of monks, killing 8 and seriously injuring 10 more today.

It’s not yet clear what led up to this horrendous tragedy.

May they rest in the peace they already found.…

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 2, 2026

Investigation ongoing, no charges filed

Authorities have not filed any charges as the investigation continues. The child remains in custody but has not yet been questioned, as he is said to be in a state of shock; investigators plan to take his statement once state child protection officers arrive to assist.

Police are still examining what caused the crash. Preliminary accounts from monks who witnessed the incident indicate the truck was seen swerving before it veered off the road and into the group.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Eight Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 injured after being hit by a pickup truck driven by an 11-year-old boy while on a pilgrimage in Thailand’s northeastern province of Mukdahan https://t.co/f25JoNBzVf pic.twitter.com/o4FKGKKmcm

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 2, 2026

Further inquiries found that no one else had been home at the time of the incident besides the boy, who had stayed back from school that day because he was unwell. His guardians only realised the vehicle was missing afterward and alerted police.

Governor calls for wider road safety lessons

Governor Worayan said the case should serve as a broader warning about road safety across the country. “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 when it comes to preventing road accidents,” he said.

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“I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen,” he added.

Thailand has one of the world’s highest road fatality rates.

(With inputs from Reuters/AP)

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