Two women drowned in Kandal province’s Loeuk Dek district on Saturday night after the car they were in fell off a ferry into the Lower Mekong River.

Aing Thou, Loeuk Dek district deputy police chief, said the incident happened after the Toyota Hilux boarded a ferry off of Neak Leung Port at about 10:45pm.

According to witnesses at the scene, instead of stopping after boarding the boat, the car continued driving right off the deck and plunged into the Mekong River, Thou told the Post.

“We do not know what the cause of this accident was. [Authorities think] it might have been a problem with the brake system, but the car has a hand brake and a foot brake, so why did it fall into the water so easily?” Thou said.

Fifty-three-year-old Thearm Touch and 64-year-old Ngy Sarun were both killed in the incident, while the driver of the vehicle was able to smash a window and swim to safety, Thou said.