The collision occurred in Mukdahan province, where 35 Buddhist monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside as part of a religious pilgrimage. Authorities said the child had taken the vehicle without his parents’ permission before losing control and striking the group.

Police said five monks died at the scene, while three others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Health officials reported that four monks remained in critical condition at Mukdahan Hospital, with 10 others seriously injured and several more receiving treatment for less severe injuries.

A monk identified as Phra Sompong, who survived the crash, said he saw the pickup truck approaching while chanting a Buddhist meditation mantra. He said he and another monk managed to jump clear moments before the vehicle plowed into the procession, while several monks were thrown into the air by the impact.

Closed-circuit television footage from a nearby property captured the procession walking along the roadside before the sound of the collision was heard and the group came to a halt.

Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of the Mukdahan Provincial Police, said investigators had seized the pickup truck for forensic examination to determine the circumstances of the crash.

He said officers had summoned the child’s parents to establish responsibility for the boy’s supervision as part of the legal process. Mukdahan City Police chief Prayut Ruanthongkam confirmed to AFP that the driver was an 11-year-old boy.

Buddhist monks hold a highly respected place in Thai society and regularly participate in public religious ceremonies, including pilgrimages and alms-giving processions that attract widespread community participation.

Mukdahan Governor Worayan Bunnarat said the tragedy should reinforce the importance of road safety and greater parental responsibility in preventing similar incidents.

Thailand has one of the world’s highest rates of road fatalities, with speeding, impaired driving and inconsistent enforcement of traffic laws frequently identified as major contributing factors to serious accidents.

MAuthorities said the investigation into the crash is continuing as forensic experts examine the vehicle and police determine any legal liability arising from the incident.

The accident occurred in Afghanistan’s eastern Laghman province along the Kabul-Nangarhar highway, a key transport route linking the capital Kabul with the country’s eastern regions.

The passengers were among Afghan nationals returning from neighboring Pakistan amid ongoing deportations and migration enforcement measures that have accelerated cross-border movements in recent years.

Abdul Malik Niazai, spokesperson for the Laghman provincial governor, said the truck plunged into a ditch after overturning. He reported that 10 children and five women were among those killed in the crash.

Aminullah Sharif, the provincial director of public health, confirmed the death toll at 22 and said approximately 36 people were injured. The wounded were transported to hospitals in neighboring Nangarhar province for treatment.

Officials said preliminary information indicated the driver fell asleep before the vehicle veered off the road and crashed. Authorities did not immediately provide details on the truck’s capacity or whether passengers were being transported in conditions compliant with transport regulations.

The victims were among thousands of Afghans who have recently returned from Pakistan, which launched a crackdown on undocumented migrants in 2023 and has since deported or pressured large numbers of Afghans to leave. Iran has also intensified expulsions of Afghan migrants, contributing to a sustained flow of returnees into Afghanistan.

Millions of Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran in recent years, including many who were born abroad or had spent decades living and working in the two neighboring countries.

In a separate incident, officials in eastern Nuristan province said a vehicle plunged into a river late on Friday, injuring its driver and leaving four passengers missing. Rescue teams continued search operations on Saturday.

Road accidents remain a persistent challenge across Afghanistan, where aging infrastructure, poorly maintained roads and limited enforcement of traffic regulations contribute to high rates of fatal crashes.

The accident occurred on a road linking the Swat region with Peshawar after a passenger bus suffered a mechanical fault and was forced to stop along the roadside. Passengers had exited the vehicle and were waiting nearby when an approaching van veered into the crowd and struck both the stranded travelers and the parked bus.

Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a rescue official, said at least 17 people were killed in the collision, while more than 10 others sustained injuries. He added that three of the injured were in critical condition.

Muhammad Ali, a doctor at a local hospital treating victims from the crash, confirmed the death toll.
Emergency responders transported the injured to nearby medical facilities as authorities worked to identify victims and determine the circumstances that led to the van losing control.

Many of those involved in the accident were traveling home ahead of Eid, one of the most significant religious holidays in the Muslim calendar, a period that typically sees a sharp increase in road traffic across Pakistan.

Fatal road accidents remain a persistent challenge in the country, where authorities and safety experts have long cited weak enforcement of traffic regulations, excessive speeding, inadequate road safety measures and reckless driving as major contributors to high casualty rates.