HOUSTON (AP) – A group of Buddhist monks on a 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) walk across the United States to promote peace plans to resume their journey after two monks were injured in a car accident near Houston, a spokesperson for the group announced Thursday.
About 20 monks began the walk from Fort Worth, Texas, on October 26 to “raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion in America and around the world,” according to the group Walk for Peace. The monks planned to travel through 10 states before arriving in Washington, D.C.
So far, the monks have visited various Texas cities, including Austin and Houston, on their journey, often walking along roads and highways while being escorted by police and vehicles behind them, said Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the group. The monks are traveling with their dog Aloka.
The monks were walking along the side of Route 90 near Dayton, Texas, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Houston, when their convoy, which had its hazard lights on, collided with a truck at about 6:13 p.m. Wednesday, Dayton Interim Police Chief Shane Burley said.
Mr Varley said the truck “did not realize how slow the vehicle was and attempted to go around the vehicle, but was unable to stop in time”. “The collision struck the left rear of the escort vehicle, which then struck the two monks.”
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Burley said one of the monks suffered a “major leg injury” and was flown by helicopter to a Houston hospital. The other monk, whose injuries were less serious, was taken by ambulance to another hospital outside Houston.
In a video posted on the Walk for Peace Facebook page, an anonymous spokesperson for the group said the most seriously injured monk will undergo a series of surgeries to repair broken bones, but the prognosis for recovery is good. The group announced that the monk’s surgery on Thursday was a success.
“He’s doing well. He’s giving us the thumbs up,” the spokesperson said. The condition of the other monk was not immediately known.
The monks, who camped overnight near Dayton, plan to resume their walk “with firm determination,” Walk for Peace said.
“We ask that you please continue to keep the monks in your thoughts and prayers as healing begins and the journey towards peace continues,” the group said in a Facebook post.
After the accident, Dong said the monks have no plans to change the way they conduct their walks, which pass through open fields as well as along highways. He said Walk for Peace will continue to work with local law enforcement in destinations they travel to ensure the monks’ safety.
“Everything is going according to plan at the moment,” Dong said.
Burley said the driver of the truck that crashed into the monk’s convoy is cooperating with investigators, which are still ongoing.
“At this point, we are looking at driver negligence,” Burley said, adding that police will decide whether to file charges at the end of the investigation.
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