Funcinpec Senator Nhiek Bun Chhay promised to pay compensation for the deaths of two men on a motorbike who collided head-on with his car Sunday evening, though the senator on Monday maintained his own driver was not at fault.
Nhiek Bun Chhay said he sent an adviser to pay respects and contribute some money at the Monday morning funeral of the two men, Pa Kimlong, 24, and Kan Phalla, 31. Their funeral was held at Wat Preah Put in Prampi Makara district.
“I will [also] pay compensation to the dead men to help their families,” Nhiek Bun Chhay said, when reached by phone Monday.
But he said the motorbike had been speeding and was driving on the wrong side of the road.
“My car was driving slow and…the motorbike driver was driving fast and passed over many cars on its own side [of the road], then crashed with my car,” he said.
The collision, which occurred around 7 pm on busy Street 270 in Tuol Kok district’s Tuk La’ak III commune, also critically injured sculptor Pov Samnang, police said Monday.
Pov Samnang, 24, was being treated in Kossamak Hospital on Monday, said Cheng Phan, local police chief of Tuk La’ak III commune.
According to witnesses, the three men were riding together on a single motorbike, Cheng Phan said. After passing several cars, the motorbike crossed the traffic line and into oncoming traffic, he said.
Cheng Phan said the senator had been riding in the car at the time of the crash. Witnesses told police a second car came to pick Nhiek Bun Chhay up from the scene, leaving his driver there to speak to police, Cheng Phan said.
On Sunday evening, the senator told reporters he had not been in the car.
Chev Hak, chief of the Phnom Penh traffic police investigation unit, said the accident is under investigation.
He said the senator’s adviser paid $100 at the funeral ceremony for each man who was killed.
