Eight Buddhist monks were killed and 26 others injured when a boy who was driving his dad’s pick-up truck crashed into them this morning.

The religious figures were walking in single file in a group of 34 along the roadside when the bronze Isuzu ploughed through them in Mukdahan,northeast Thailand,just before noon.

Footage from the aftermath shows the monks in their distinctive orange robes scattered across the ground.

At least eight were pronounced dead at the scene while another 14 were rushed to the hospital wth critical injuries.

The others all suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

Police said that the boy was taken into custody while they investigate how he came to be driving the vehicle. They were also searching for his relatives.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.A traffic cop came upon the grim scene (Picture: NewsX)Lieutenant Theera Kaewnet said: ‘Upon arriving at the scene,I found a large number of monks lying on the road and by the roadside.‘At first,I thought it was a contingency drill,but when I went down to inspect,I realised it was an actual accident,so I quickly coordinated with local police officers,rescuers and the hospital to urgently assist the injured.’Police said the monks had been walking across the province as part of a pilgrimage to a religious site.They were carrying alms collected along the route.Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.