BANGKOK, Thailand: Eight Buddhist monks were killed and 14 others injured after a pickup truck driven by a juvenile ploughed into a group of monks on a religious pilgrimage in Thailand’s northeastern Mukdahan province today.
Mukdahan authorities said the monks were on a religious pilgrimage by foot to Nam Khun district in neighbouring Ubon Ratchathani province when the accident occurred, killing five at the scene while three other succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Four victims also sustained critical injuries, and 10 others suffered moderate injuries, according to Mukdahan Provincial Public Health Chief, Dr Narong Chankaew.
He said 23 patients, comprising 22 monks and one layperson, were admitted to the hospital.
Mukdahan Governor, Warayan Boonnarat, said preliminary investigations found that the monks had set off at about 11:00 am and were walking against the flow of traffic along Ban Na Si Nuan Road in Mueang district, in line with pedestrian safety practices.
Warayan said witnesses told authorities that the pickup truck lost control before veering onto the roadside.
The first five monks managed to avoid the vehicle, but it struck the rest of the group, who were walking about two metres from the road’s edge.
Mukdahan Provincial Police Commander, Police Major-General Phairoj Thaiputra, said the driver, who is under 15, had been taken into custody.
He said investigators were gathering evidence and questioning the driver’s parents to determine the cause of the crash, adding that legal action would be taken in accordance with the law.
“Police are also considering whether the parents could face negligence charges for allowing the underage driver to use the vehicle,” he said.
Following the crash, Mukdahan Hospital appealed for blood donations to support the treatment of the injured. – BERNAMA
