Five men were killed and one seriously injured when two trucks collided in the early hours of yesterday morning on National Road 3 in Takeo province’s Samrong district.

District police chief Moeurng Sarun said a beverage truck and one loaded with cement had collided with such force that both vehicles were damaged beyond recognition.

“The accident happened at 5:30am this morning on National Road 3 while they were travelling in opposite directions and crashed into each other very strongly, causing both drivers and three passengers to die immediately,” he said.

“We cannot conclude exactly the cause of the accident as we’ve heard different stories from different villagers.

Some said the cement truck had attempted to pass a car on the road before crashing into the beverage truck, but others said the cement truck had blinded the beverage truck’s driver when they used their high beams,” said Sarun.

Those killed included drivers Toem Sokvoeun, 19, and Song Oun, 35, along with passenger Heng Phalla, 33, and two identified only as Thea, 32, and Houn, 30. Sy Navun, 30, was seriously injured and sent to hospital.