Three people were killed and at least one seriously injured yesterday in a hit-and-run traffic accident in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district, according to police.

Keo Suthort, Phnom Penh Thmey commune police chief, said that witnesses to the event reported seeing six people leave a porridge shop on three motorbikes on Street 1986, shortly after 1am.

According to friends of the group and travellers present at the scene, two of the motorbikes were struck by a car travelling at high speed, killing three immediately and seriously injuring a fourth.

The motorist attempted to flee the scene, but was pursued by the third motorbike along with a crowd of villagers who forced the vehicle to collide with a road barrier, before unleashing a retributive attack on the passengers.

“After intercepting the car, the angry villagers damaged the car and beat up the driver and another person who was inside the car,” said Suthort. “One of them was injured seriously before the authorities arrived.”

He added that after the incident, the driver was arrested for interrogation and his passenger had been sent to a private clinic in Phnom Penh suffering serious injuries from the beating.

The bodies of the three victims, Soy Tol, Ol Samnang and Heng Tob, have been returned to their families for a traditional funeral.

The car and the two damaged motorbikes have been impounded.