Police have pressed a charge of assault against the young driver of a pickup truck who was seen in a CCTV clip pushing an old man in a road rage incident in Chachoengsao’s Bang Nam Prieo district.
Pol Col Somnuek Hanta, superintendent of Bang Nam Prieo police, said the suspect, identified as Nanmanas Siriwattanasakul, 27, had reported to police and admitted to assaulting 92-year-old Bancha Ditthaporn in a fit of anger.
The incident, which took place on Wednesday, drew a huge amount of attention on social media following the release of CCTV footage.
In the clip, a man, identified later as Mr Bancha, is seen reversing his car onto a road and into the front of a pickup truck. Mr Nanmanas, the pickup driver, is then shown getting out of his vehicle and, after an exchange of words, pushing the old man to the ground before driving off.
Mr Bancha was left unconscious and later rushed to hospital by a passer-by. The retired civil servant is being treated at Buddhasothorn Hospital and remains in critical condition.
Pol Col Somnuek said Mr Nanmanas, who is the son of a police officer, Pol Sub Lt Dej Siriwattanasakul at Bang Nam Prieo police station, will face additional charges if medical reports confirm that Mr Bancha sustained serious injuries from the assault.
Mr Bancha’s daughter said Pol Sub Lt Dej had paid a visit to her father and apologised for the incident.
