In a heartbreaking incident, nine Buddhist monks lost their lives and several others were injured when an 11-year-old driver, who had taken his parents' pickup truck without permission, crashed into them during a religious procession in Mukdahan province, north-east Thailand. The group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking by the roadside as part of a pilgrimage when the accident occurred. Preliminary investigations suggest that the boy lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plough into the procession. Five monks died at the scene, with four more passing away later in hospital. Police are still determining the legal course of action for the young driver and have taken the vehicle for forensic examination to determine the cause of the accident. Mukdahan Hospital has appealed for urgent blood donations to help the injured monks, with three remaining in critical condition and at least five others suffering serious injuries. The public is urged to heed road safety warnings following this incident, as Mukdahan provincial governor Worayan Bunnarat stated that stricter measures should be taken to prevent such accidents from happening again.