The Thai football world woke up to shocking news on Wednesday morning after Chonburi FC goalkeeper Worawut Sukhuna was involved in a drunk-driving incident that killed one person and injured another. The promising young goalkeeper was driving under the influence after a night out in downtown Chonburi, running over two pedestrians with his car that killed 62-year old Kanya Phonghasban and injured a man named Pong.
Both Kanya and Pong were out jogging on that fateful early morning when Worawut’s black Toyota Vios rammed into them. Kanya was killed on impact with severe injuries to her right leg and head, while Pong suffered a broken right leg and was rushed to the nearest hospital.
Police officers attending to the scene said that they found 22-year old Worawut in a drunken state inside his heavily damaged Vios. They immediately tested his body alcohol content, which was measured to be 184mg%. According to the officers, Worawut refused to sign his name on the alcohol reading.
Sawet Jewatcharin, another jogger who was in the area with Kanya and Pong when the accident happened, told the police that he saw Worawut’s Vios driving very fast on the road before a loud sound was heard. Sawet then saw the car swerving and crashing into the sidewalk, with sparks flying out from the Vios. Sawet managed to escape the area just in time as the car was heading straight towards him, however Kanya and Pong who were nearby were not so lucky.
Continuing his testimony to the police, Sawet then went on to say that a white Toyota Fortuner pulled up into the area only moments after the crash, the vehicle being occupied by three men who were also drunk like Worawut.
One of the men then exited the Fortuner – who turned out to be Chonburi center-back Chalermpong Kerdkaew. The 36-year old squared off against everyone in the area in an attempt to bail Worawut away from the scene, hurling insults at police, paramedics, and civilians before attempting to punch a policeman.
A number of paramedics and civilians had to intervene and hold Chalermpong down until the former Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda player could calm down, allowing the police to take Worawut to the nearest station and charge him with reckless driving causing death and injury as well as drunk-driving.
In response to the incident, Chonburi, whose Facebook page was flooded with criticisms aimed at both the club, Worawut, and Chalermpong, released a statement a few hours afterwards.
Within the statement, Chonburi vowed to help and compensate Pong and his family, as well as extending their condolences and support to Kanya’s bereaved family, who will also receive compensation from the Sharks. Chonburi also vowed to keep a better eye on their footballers and distanced themselves from Worawut and Chalermpong’s actions, which goes against everything that Chonburi had stood for. The club will also fully cooperate with the police in the upcoming investigation of the accident, providing Worawut with no means of legal protection whatsoever, while an internal investigation will be done in regards of Chalermpong.
In the aftermath of the accident, Chonburi team manager Sasis Singtothong resigned from his position out of a sense of responsibility, personally apologizing to the families of the victims as well as stating that Worawut will be punished accordingly for his actions.
Chonburi president Wittaya Khunpluem also personally visited Pong and his family as well as attending Kanya’s wake in person, giving each family THB100.000 as compensation to cover for Pong’s medical bills as well as the costs of Kanya’s funeral rites.
Both Worawut and Chalermpong were suspended following the incident, neither of them being allowed to play for the club until further notice. Chonburi then announced on Thursday that they had terminated Worawut’s contract as a result of his actions on Wednesday morning, effectively sacking him from the club, while on Friday it was announced that Chalermpong was handed a two-game ban and a hefty THB100.000 fine as a consequence for his misconduct.
Prior to his drunk-driving incident, Worawut had established himself as Chonburi’s new number one goalkeeper after starting off the season as an understudy for the Sharks’ main goalkeeper Chanin Sae-ear. An injury to Chanin allowed Worawut to step up in his place, playing six league matches as Chonburi sat third in the Thai League 1 table. The 22-year old custodian even played in the Sharks’ most recent match, a 1-1 draw away at Ratchaburi FC last Sunday.
A product of the famed Chonburi academy, Worawut had also represented the Thailand national team in different age groups, being part of the U-18s and U-19s before narrowly missing out on the U-23s squad for the upcoming 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. He had also represented lower league clubs Bankhai United and Uthai Thani FC on loan prior to this season.