The mother's tormenting regret for giving her underage child a car
After her son's death, especially knowing that she would be prosecuted in court for giving her car to a minor, Ms. Ro Mah Pil (Gia Lai) completely collapsed. The remorse tore her apart so much that she did not dare to look at her son's portrait...
The life of an unhappy woman
Four months have passed since her son Ro Mah Tinh died in an accident. Ro Mah Pil (born in 1986, residing in La Lau commune, Chu Prong district, Gia Lai province) seems to have completely collapsed. All her connections to her son are just sad memories, haunting, and endless torment. Because in the casetraffic accidentThe serious accident on the afternoon of October 25, 2023 that caused Ro Mah Tinh and 3 young men from the same commune to die was partly her fault.
That afternoon, after drinking to celebrate the housewarming, Ro Mah Tinh (17 years old, no driver's license, not old enough to drive a motorbike over 50cm3, not wearing a helmet), driving a motorbike with license plate number: 81B2-636.82, cylinder capacity 109cm3 carrying Niang Keo and Siu Ngu (both 18 years old) traveling from La Lau commune to La Ga commune.
Due to not paying attention and controlling the speed, Tinh's car crashed into a motorbike with license plate number 81B2-199.06 driven by Ro Mah Tuyen (22 years old) going in the opposite direction. As a result, all 4 young men died, 2 motorbikes were deformed and severely damaged.
After losing her child, the pain had not yet subsided when Ms. Ro Mah Pil was recently prosecuted by the People's Procuracy of Chu Prong district and tried for the crime of "Allowing an unqualified person to drive a vehicle to participate in road traffic".
In a wooden-framed house with a corrugated iron roof, with nothing of value except a bed, Ms. Ro Mah Pil wiped away her tears and recalled: “When Ro Mah Tinh was 1 year old, my husband was unfortunately electrocuted to death while using an electric shock to catch fish. As soon as I turned 21, I had to wrap a mourning scarf around my head and hold my child until I cried my eyes out.”
In 2010, to have someone to help, Ms. Ro Mah Pil welcomed Ro Lan Gcunh, 3 years younger than her, from the same village, to live with her, and then gave birth to 2 daughters in 2011 and 2015.
“At first, Ro Lan Gcunh drank little alcohol so he still went to work, helped his wife manage the fields, and took care of the children. After that, he changed his personality, neglected his work, drank frequently, cursed and beat his wife and children, so I could no longer live with him,” Ms. Ro Mah Pil said sadly.
“After finishing 7th grade, Ro Mah Tinh dropped out of school to weed, spray pesticides, and herd cows with his mother. Every time he went to work, Ro Mah Tinh took turns taking him there and back, and over time he got used to it. Since 2021, he has been using the motorbike he just bought to get around every day, but only around the village,” Pil confided.
"I dare not look at my child's portrait"
Explaining why she knew her son was drinking but still let Ro Mah Tinh drive, Ro Mah Pil said: “Before, every time he drank, I usually stopped him. I don’t know why I let it go that day. When he said he was going to Niang Keo’s house, I just let him go without saying anything. If I had stopped him, he probably wouldn’t have gone and wouldn’t have gotten into such an accident.”
Like many Gia Rai mothers, due to limited legal awareness, Ms. Ro Mah Pil did not know that giving a car to a child under the age of 18 was illegal.violating the law: “In this village, many underage children still ride motorbikes on the street. What's wrong with them driving so fast? It's just my child's fate.”
Normally, mother and son always went to work together, but after her son's death, she had to work alone. The work was hard, without anyone to support or share with, Pil missed her son so much, regretting giving him the car and causing such unfortunate consequences.
“I regret it so much, I didn’t want it to be like that. It’s too late to do anything now, he’s gone. Every time I come home and pass the altar, I don’t dare look at my son’s portrait,” Pil’s voice choked with sobs.
“Absolutely do not give your vehicle to someone underage, or if you have been drinking alcohol, you are not allowed to drive. Don’t be like me, saying this now is too late,” Ms. Pil said in tears.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Hoang Van Long, Vice Chairman of Ia Lau Commune People's Committee, said that Ms. Ro Mah Pil's situation is very pitiful, her family is poor. Currently, Ms. Pil and her three children live together, while her husband, due to his drinking habit, has returned home to live with his mother.
According to Mr. Long, after the tragic accident occurred, the Commune People's Committee mobilized mass organizations and benefactors to support the victims' families. At the same time, it directed the organization to propagate traffic safety compliance, disseminate legal education in villages and hamlets, and increase patrols to handle violations.