Eight Buddhist monks were killed and 13 others seriously injured when a pickup truck ploughed into a nighttime pilgrimage procession in northeastern Thailand’s Mukdahan province, authorities said.

The group of monks had been walking along a roadside in Ban Na Si Nuan, in Mueang district, when the vehicle veered into them. Rescue workers and police arrived to a scene of devastation, with bodies and injured monks scattered across the road and nearby verge as emergency teams fought to save lives in the dark.

Police said five monks were pronounced dead at the scene. Three more succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to hospital. Thirteen others, many with severe trauma, were transported to nearby medical facilities for emergency treatment. Local hospitals were placed on high alert as ambulances ferried the wounded from the crash site.

Preliminary investigations indicate the pickup truck was being driven by a juvenile who had allegedly taken the vehicle without permission from a parent or guardian. Officers are examining whether speed, fatigue, or possible impairment played a role, and are working to reconstruct the moments leading up to the collision.

The road was sealed off for several hours as forensic teams documented skid marks, debris and the positions of the victims. Monks’ robes, sandals and personal belongings were left strewn across the asphalt, underscoring the violence of the impact.

The monks were reportedly on a religious pilgrimage, a common practice in the predominantly Buddhist region, where groups of clergy and lay followers travel on foot between temples, often at night or in the early morning to avoid the heat. The tragedy has sparked renewed concern over pedestrian safety on rural roads, where lighting is poor and traffic regulations are often loosely enforced.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and that they will be questioning the young driver, family members and witnesses, as well as reviewing any available CCTV footage from nearby properties. Authorities are also coordinating with religious leaders to support the affected temples and arrange funeral rites for the deceased monks.

The incident has sent shockwaves through local communities, where the monks were widely respected, and has prompted calls for stricter supervision of underage drivers and better protection for pilgrims walking along Thailand’s roads.