The vice president of the Funcinpec party has called for a thorough investigation into the causes of the car crash that killed the wife of party leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh on Sunday.
Ouk Phalla, Ranariddh’s wife, was killed in the accident in Preah Sihanouk province that also left the prince seriously injured.
Ranariddh’s car was reportedly hit head on by a taxi as the former prime minister traveled to visit supporters ahead of next month’s elections.
You Hok Kry, Funcinpec vice president, said at Phalla’s funeral that the prince had been involved in three car accidents since 2015 which he found “really suspicious”.
“We leave it to the authorities because the driver was detained,” he said. “We can only wonder why it keeps happening to the prince.”
Cambodia’s roads are notoriously unsafe, holding one of the highest accident rates in the region.
Hok Kry said Ranariddh was being treated in a Bangkok hospital and was as yet unaware of his wife’s death.
Choun Narin, Preah Sihanouk police commissioner, said the driver of the car that hit Ranariddh’s was under investigation.
“We know the taxi driver was wrong. We will send him to court,” he said.
Two passengers in the taxi were also reportedly badly injured in the crash.
