11-year-old boy runs over and kills eight monks in Thailand

At least eight Buddhist monks died and more than 20 were injured after being run over by a pickup truck driven by an 11-year-old boy while they were carrying out a pilgrimage in Mukdahan province, in northeastern Thailand, authorities said on Thursday (2).

The victims were part of a group of 34 Buddhist monks and five lay faithful who were carrying out a pilgrimage from a temple in Mukdahan province to another in neighboring Ubon Ratchathani province, Mukdahan governor Vorayan Bunarat said at a press conference.

Five monks died at the scene, while three others later died in hospital from their injuries, the governor said. Another 22 monks and a lay faithful were injured in the accident, including four who are in critical condition.

"The driver, an 11-year-old boy with special needs, picked up the truck from the family's home and drove about 10 km before hitting the group of monks," said Maj. Gen. Pairoj Thaiphutra, police chief of Mukdahan province.

Police have not yet filed any charges as investigators try to determine the circumstances of the crash, the police chief said.

Authorities have not yet been able to interrogate the boy as he remains in a state of shock and is unable to give a statement, he added.

Source: CNN