A provincial police official died and another was seriously injured in a traffic accident in Kampot province on Sunday, as they drove back to Kampot town after providing extra security at a speech by Prime Minister Hun Sen in the province.

The two policemen were driving a Honda car through Taken commune in Chhouk district when a truck driving in the opposite direction veered to avoid a pothole and collided into their vehicle, said Chhouk district deputy police chief Nak El.

The police officials had been driving home following the premier’s visit at the Taken Koh Sla Disability Development Centre. The driver of the truck disappeared following the incident.

“The authorities impounded the truck at the provincial police station and we are searching for the truck’s owner,” said El.

Korn Mut, 36, deputy head of accounting at the Kampot provincial police station, died on his way to a nearby hospital. Hem Sophea, 45, the station’s deputy logistics chief, was sent to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.

Kampot provincial police chief Mao Chanmathurith expressed his condolences at the accident.