The number of casualties from last week’s fatal bus crash in the Dankrek Mountains rose to 17 on Friday, after victim Sem Sambath, 58, succumbed to her injuries, Siem Reap Provincial Hospital director Pen Phalkun said yesterday.

Sambath died of “severe lung and head trauma”, he said.

The other injured passengers, who were sent to Siem Reap from the crash site in Oddar Meanchey’s Anlong Veng district, have now been sent to Phnom Penh’s Calmette Hospital, he added.

The bus driver, however, is still in hospital in Siem Reap, and is under the supervision of police.

Thursday’s crash occurred as the bus was taking a group to a pagoda near the Thai border, where they had planned to hold a religious ceremony. The driver has blamed a brake failure for the accident.

Seng Samony, the husband of victim Chea Chhoeun, said his wife and sister-in-law had already been sent to Vietnam for treatment on Friday night.

“Until now their condition hasn’t gotten any better,” he said.

On Saturday morning, Oddar Meanchey Provincial Governor Sor Thavy offered 1 million riel (about $243) to each of the victims of the crash.