PHNOM PENH: Virak Rithy Transport — the owners of a bus that crashed off the O’ Prasat bridge in Kampong Thom this morning, killing 13 — have donated one million riel (US$250) to the families of each victim to assist with funeral expenses, and pledged that compensation will be handled through its insurance company.
Lieutenant General Heng Sophal, Chief of the Kampong Thom provincial police, said that after the incident, a representative of the transport company visited the scene and to the nearby mortuary, donating one million riel for each of the deceased on Thursday (Nov 20).
“He explained that his company’s insurance will handle further compensation. The million-riel donations were just an offering, like a traditional contribution for the funeral,” explained Sophal.
He added that in such traffic accidents, the first step is for authorities to rescue victims and handle the bodies of those who died. Afterwards, specialised authorities will build a case file and summon the company to resolve matters legally.
The double-decker bus was travelling from Oddar Meanchey to Phnom Penh, via Siem Reap, when it plunged of the O’ Prasat bridge in Kakoh commune, Santuk district, in Kampong Thom province, at around 3.20am on Friday.
The bus, carrying 37 passengers, hit the head of the bridge and fell into the water, causing 13 deaths and injuring 24 others, 14 of them seriously.
Sophal said that at the time of the incident, the bus was being driven by a driver’s assistant, who likely fell asleep and caused the accident.
“Our officers have concluded that he dozed off and hit the head of the bridge, causing the bus to fall into the water. The driver was the relief driver. He took over while the main driver was resting. We are now searching for the main driver,” he said, adding that the relief driver responsible for the crash suffered serious injuries and is currently being treated in the provincial hospital under police surveillance.
Santuk district Police Chief Mao Chanthy said that the main driver has been missing since the incident. He added that the bodies of all 13 victims have been handed over to their families, most of whom were from Oddar Meanchey province.
The Kampong Thom provincial police offered their condolences to the families affected by this tragic accident.
Virak Rithy Transport could not be contacted for comment on Thursday.
The National Police reported that six other people lost their lives on the Kingdom’s roads in the same 24-hour-period, from 3pm on Nov 19 to 2pm Friday afternoon. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
