Thailand is mourning after a devastating road accident in Mukdahan province left nine Buddhist monks dead and several others injured. The tragedy happened when an 11-year-old boy allegedly drove a pickup truck into a group of monks walking along the roadside during a religious pilgrimage.

According to officials, the monks had only begun their journey about 30 minutes before the crash. They were walking in a single file as part of a traditional pilgrimage from Mukdahan toward Ubon Ratchathani when the pickup truck veered off the road and struck the group.

Authorities said five monks died at the scene, while four others later died in hospital. Thirteen people were taken for medical treatment, with some reported to be in critical condition. The scale of the accident has shocked the local community and drawn national attention across Thailand.

Police said the child had allegedly taken the family pickup truck without permission before driving several kilometers. Investigators are now working to determine how the boy gained access to the vehicle, whether he was alone, and what caused the truck to lose control.

The incident has raised difficult questions about child supervision, road safety, and access to vehicles. For many Thais, the tragedy is especially painful because the victims were monks taking part in a sacred religious journey.

Provincial officials have urged families to be more careful about preventing children from accessing vehicles. The crash is also being treated as a wider warning about the risks of underage driving and the importance of road safety enforcement.

As families, temples, and communities grieve, the case remains under investigation.

Sources: LA Times/AP, Sky News