Nine Thai Monks Dead After 11-Year-Old Driver Collides With Procession

Child Driver Causes Fatal Collision

Nine Buddhist monks have died and several others sustained injuries after an 11-year-old driver struck a religious procession in northern Thailand. The incident occurred yesterday as a group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking alongside a highway in Chiang Mai province.

Police reported that the child, whose name has not been released, was driving a pickup truck when it veered into the procession. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, including how an 11-year-old was operating the vehicle.

The deceased monks were reportedly participating in a traditional alms collection walk. Responders transported the injured to local hospitals for treatment. This tragic event highlights persistent concerns regarding road safety in Thailand, a nation with one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities globally.