On August 18, 2024, at Wat Nong Tabak in Lopburi Province, the family of Pariyat, 43, who tragically lost her life in a Chao Phraya River accident involving a long-tail boat and a jet ski, gathered to receive her body and hold funeral rites amidst a sorrowful atmosphere.
The incident occurred when Kewpie Chindonai, a well-known actor from the popular series Wun Rak Nak Bid, was operating a jet ski on the Chao Phraya River near Bang Kachao, Samut Prakan. While on the river with his girlfriend and her mother, the jet ski collided with a long-tail ferry boat. The crash led to the deaths of Prayoon, the 66-year-old boat operator, and Pariyat, a 43-year-old passenger, both of whom fell into the river and drowned.
Surveillance footage from a camera near Wat Bang Kachao Nok captured the collision at 8:29 PM on August 17, 2024. The footage showed the long-tail boat, carrying three people including the operator, leaving the pier to cross the river towards Rama III. As the boat reached the middle of the river, a jet ski, one of two in the area, was seen attempting to swerve out of the way but failed, resulting in a direct collision. This evidence aligns with the testimony given by the actor who was operating the jet ski. Another camera from a nearby docked vessel recorded the two jet skis approaching the long-tail boat before the collision occurred, providing crucial evidence for the investigation by police and the Marine Department.
Mongkolsawat Wernkratok, 48, the surviving passenger from the tragic collision, brought the body of his wife, Pariyat, back to her hometown in Nong Muang District, Lopburi Province, to perform funeral rites. The atmosphere at the ceremony was filled with profound grief, with family members, particularly Pariyat’s mother, Saowapha, 65, and her two younger sons, mourning deeply as they performed the bathing ritual for the deceased. The family also invited monks to the pier at Wat Bang Kachao Nok to perform a ritual to call back the spirits of the two victims.
Mongkolsawat recounted the terrifying moments of the crash, stating that they were halfway across the river when the jet ski struck. He turned to find both the boat operator and his wife missing. Unable to find his wife, who could not swim, he called out her name in desperation. He also noted that the jet ski operator had not contacted him or offered any apology for the incident. The family of Prayoon, the boat operator, also expressed their grief, with his youngest daughter sharing that her father had been a boatman since she was a child and had just recently resumed his work after a break. She urged passengers on ferry boats to be vigilant, as accidents can happen at any time.
In response to public speculation about whether the jet ski operator was under the influence of alcohol, the police confirmed that an alcohol test was conducted shortly after the incident, with no trace of alcohol found. Pol. Col. Prapas Mangkang, Deputy Commander of Samut Prakan Provincial Police, who is overseeing the investigation, stated that the case has made significant progress. Both the police and the Marine Department have collected evidence from the scene, with divers expected to search for the sunken engine of the boat in the coming days. The investigation will determine jurisdiction, as the accident occurred near the boundary between Samut Prakan and Bangkok. Once the Marine Department completes its inquiry, the findings will be submitted to the police, who will proceed with any necessary legal actions. The investigation aims to ensure justice for all parties involved.