ALBAWABA - Eight monks were killed in Thailand when an 11-year-old boy stole his parent’s truck and crashed into a Buddhist pilgrimage procession.
"The suspect is a child. The vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to determine the cause," Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of the Mukdahan Provincial Police, told reporters.
"We've asked the child's parents to come in so we can determine who is responsible for the child's care, so we can go on with the legal process," he added.
Buddhist monks are highly regarded in Thailand, often holding public processions and receiving alms of goodwill from ordinary Thais.
The procession into which the truck crashed had 35 monks in it - alongside the eight killed, four monks were in critical condition and ten others were seriously hurt, while more were being treated for lighter injuries, according to health authorities.
Road safety is dangerously lacking in Thailand and is considered a major public safety concern; leading to some pointing out the broader issues facing the country and not treating this crash like an isolated incident.
"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," the Major General said.
"I think everyone involved, especially parents, needs to help, because no one wants something like this to happen."
