An 11-year-old boy drove his parents’ pickup truck into a Buddhist procession in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of nine monks and serious injuries to around 10 others, local authorities and police said.

The incident occurred in Mukdahan province during a religious pilgrimage. A group of 35 monks accompanied by five lay followers was walking along a roadside when the boy, who reportedly took the vehicle without permission, lost control and struck the procession at high speed.

One of the surviving monks, Phra Sompong, recounted the moment in a video shared by local rescue teams, describing how the truck suddenly collided with the group. “I was chanting ‘Buddho, Buddho’ when the truck hit us full speed,” he said. He and another monk managed to jump aside just in time to avoid the vehicle.

Initial police reports indicated that five monks died at the scene, with three more succumbing to injuries in hospital. Later, the Mukdahan provincial office confirmed the death toll at nine. Health officials also stated that four monks were in critical condition, around 10 were seriously injured, and others had sustained minor wounds and were receiving treatment.

Buddhist monks hold a revered position in Thai society as custodians of the Buddha’s teachings, and public processions are a common and significant part of their religious practice. Footage from a nearby CCTV camera showed the monks walking along the road with passing vehicles before the crash occurred.

Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of Mukdahan Provincial Police, confirmed that the suspect was a child. The vehicle has been confiscated for forensic examination to determine the exact cause of the crash. Authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.