At least two people died and nearly 20 were injured when a bus carrying 40 orphans smashed into a container truck on National Road 4 in Kampong Speu yesterday afternoon.

Say Sat, Samrong Tong district police chief in charge of traffic, said police believe the accident occurred as the bus – operated by Ponleu Angkor – attempted to overtake another car and hit a truck travelling in the opposite direction.

“The container truck driver and a man travelling with him were dead when brought to Calmette hospital [in Phnom Penh] for medical treatment. Some of the children were brought to the provincial hospital and private clinics for treatment,” he said.

The driver of the bus was among those injured and brought to hospital. Police said they would continue investigating and were unsure whether he would be arrested.

According to Sat, the children were returning to their centre in Battambang after a trip to Sihanoukville.