Fatal accident: TV comedian asks forgiveness, pledges long-term support

27 มีนาคม 2560

Television comedian Chusak Aiemsuk has taken on a lengthy commitment to look after the family of a road accident victim after his son was charged with dangerous driving causing death to a motorist.

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Television comedian Chusak Aiemsuk asks forgiveness

Television comedian Chusak Aiemsuk, or Nong Cha Cha Cha, has taken on a lengthy commitment to look after the family of a road accident victim after his son was charged with dangerous driving causing death to a motorist.

Nong made the pledge to the family of engineer Pornpichit Nareunatmontri, 47, after Nong's son Dear, 28, was involved in an early morning car crash on Monday when his BMW hit Pornpichit's Mitsubishi Lancer in Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi.

The Mitsubishi was taking a U-turn into Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road, entering the Klong 9 area, when the oncoming BMW hit it about 1am. Video footage shows the two cars careening down the road for some distance. The victim was killed instantly in the high-speed crash, while Dear sustained minor injuries.

While a blood test turned up no traces of alcohol in Dear's system, CCTV cameras in the area put his speed at 150km/h, police say. Thanyaburi police charged him with dangerous driving causing death, and exceeding the speed limit.

His father Nong turned up promptly at the accident scene. He also attended the victim's funeral rites, which ended on Thursday, when he pledged to meet all costs and enter talks with Pornpichit's family over compensation.

Offering a wai to the victim's widow, Kasemsi Klaewkla, and prostrating himself before his mother, Nittaya Saetae, 84, at the funeral rites at Wat Aiyikaram in Thanyaburi district, Nong said he would also look after the family by finding them work.

The victim, an engineer at Bangkadi industrial park, leaves behind his wife and two children, Nong Frame, 15, and Nong Bai Fah, 14. While Frame was living with his father in Bangkok, and has passed entry exams to study engineering, his younger sister, who studies in Mathayom 3, lives in Chiang Mai with her mother.

Speaking after the funeral, Mrs Kasemsi said Nong's manager had spoken to the family about the help Nong was likely to provide for them at Workpoint Entertainment, where he makes a television show.

"They want the kids to finish their studies first, but after that he will find an opening for them. He will get them jobs at Workpoint,'' she said.

Mrs Kasemsi, who works as a producer at a Chiang Mai radio station, said she might have to give up her job and move with her daughter to Bangkok to be with Frame, who, since his father's death, is now at home alone.

Nong had also pledged to arrange work for her at Workpoint if she moves.

"His assurances have helped put my mind at ease. I was worried particularly about the impact on Frame, who has now lost a male role model in his life,'' she said. "I am also worried about whether he still can look after me when I get old.

Dear attended the victim's funeral rites on the second and third nights, sitting between his father and young Frame. Media footage showed Dear, who was in tears, reaching out to hold Frame's hand as they grieved.

Dear, who was pictured being taken away from the accident scene in a stretcher, requires ongoing care for a sore knee and chest injury. His father said Dear helps out at a noodle shop in Nakhon Nayok and was heading home to Thanyaburi when the accident occurred.

After the funeral ended on Thursday, Nong took Dear to Thanyaburi police to hear the charges. He is free to go about his daily life but must return when called for questioning.

Speaking after the police meeting, Nong sounded a warning against the dangers of speeding. "It doesn't help anyone if you have an accident, as it affects not just your own family but others as well,'' he said.