Mukdahan, Thailand—A group of monks walking along the roadside for a pilgrimage was struck by a pickup truck on Saturday morning. The collision resulted in ten deaths. The driver was an eleven-year-old boy who had taken his parents' vehicle without permission. The impact occurred at high speed.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and deeply distressing. The monks were part of a long-distance procession intended to last for several days. They were walking in a single file on the shoulder of the road when the vehicle swerved off the pavement. The driver appeared to lose control shortly before the impact.

First responders arrived to find victims scattered across the shoulder of the highway. Most of the fatalities occurred at the scene. Paramedics transported the survivors to a nearby hospital in Mukdahan. Two of those injured remain in critical condition as doctors fight to save them.

The local community is struggling to process the loss of such a large number of respected figures. Monks hold a significant place in Thai society and the loss has been met with national mourning. Families of the deceased have already begun arriving at the hospital to identify their relatives.

Police took the boy into custody immediately following the crash. Because of his age, he is being handled under strict juvenile protection guidelines. His parents are being questioned about how the child accessed the keys to a heavy pickup truck. The investigation will also look at the vehicle's maintenance records.

Security camera footage recovered from a nearby property captures the moment of the collision. It shows the procession moving in a steady rhythm before the truck enters the frame. There is no indication that the driver attempted to brake before striking the group. The sound of the impact forced nearby residents to rush to the road.

Safety officials in the province expressed their frustration with the lack of accountability for young drivers. They noted that rural roads are often treated as private play areas, despite the danger to the public. The governor has called for an emergency meeting to address the failure of local road supervision.

Lawyers for the families are preparing to file civil claims, though the juvenile status of the driver complicates the legal process. The surviving monks have been moved to a local temple to recover and perform rites for those lost. The road where the incident occurred remains temporarily closed for further forensic analysis.