11-Year-Old Boy with Autism Crashes Truck Into Monks
An 11-year-old boy with autism crashed his parents' pickup truck into a Buddhist alms procession in Mukdahan province, killing 10 monks. Authorities are coordinating welfare protections for the child, who was registered as disabled before t
A shocking accident occurred along the Mukdahan-Ubon Ratchathani road in Na Si Nuea subdistrict, Mukdahan province, when an 11-year-old boy took his parents' pickup truck without permission and lost control, crashing into a Buddhist alms-gathering procession. The collision resulted in 10 monks' deaths and numerous injuries.
On July 3, 2569, Tueanjai Kongsombat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, revealed on a news program that a multidisciplinary team met following the incident to determine appropriate welfare protections for the child.
Investigations found the boy was registered as a person with disability, classified as Type 7 disability. According to Tueanjai, the child had been registered as disabled prior to the incident. Once registered, support services related to skill development and school preparation would typically be provided. However, on the day of the accident, the child was reportedly unwell and not attending school.
"Special needs children require sensitive care. The multidisciplinary team is coordinating with legal authorities," Tueanjai stated.
Type 7 disability under Thai law refers to autism spectrum disorder, characterized by difficulties in social development, communication, language, and behavior resulting from brain abnormalities. This causes limitations in daily living, with symptoms typically evident from early childhood.
