11-year-old boy kills eight monks in Thailand truck crash

An 11-year-old boy crashed a pickup truck into a group of monks on a pilgrimage walk in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, killing eight of them, officials said.

The monks were part of a group of 35 from Mukdahan province. They had begun their journey about 30 minutes before the crash. Five monks were killed at the scene, while three others died later in hospital.

Security camera footage shows the monks walking in a single line along the side of the road when the truck struck them.

Local media reported that the driver was an 11-year-old boy with special needs who allegedly took his parent’s pickup truck without permission. Police have detained the child but have not yet officially confirmed those details as the investigation continues.