Autistic 11-Year-Old Driver Awaits Medical Evaluation Before Charges
An 11-year-old boy with autism who stole his parents' pickup truck and crashed into a Buddhist procession, killing 10 monks, must undergo medical evaluation before facing legal proceedings due to his age and disability status.
Police have revealed that the 11-year-old driver is registered as a person with type 7 disability (autism) and cannot yet face legal proceedings. He must undergo medical evaluation first before multidisciplinary questioning can proceed, as the perpetrator is both a minor and a person with a disability.
The tragic accident occurred on the Mukdahan-Ubon Ratchathani road in Na Si Nuan subdistrict, Mukdahan city, when an 11-year-old boy secretly took his parents' pickup truck and lost control, crashing into a Buddhist monastic procession. The collision resulted in the deaths of 10 monks and numerous injuries, as previously reported.
On July 4, 2025, Deputy Police Region 4 Commander Phairoj Thaiphutthara disclosed that the boy is registered as a person with type 7 disability (autism) under the Promotion and Development of Quality of Life of Persons with Disabilities Act B.E. 2550 and is under the care of Mukdahan's Social Development and Human Security Office.
The child has been sent for psychological evaluation at Phra Si Maha Bodhi Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, which operates under the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health. Because the perpetrator is both a minor and a person with a disability, the case must follow a multidisciplinary process. Experts must first determine whether the child is ready to enter the investigation process.
Once the medical assessment is complete, investigators will convene a multidisciplinary team comprising psychologists, social workers, prosecutors, the child's guardians, and relevant agencies to conduct the investigation according to legal procedures.
