Four people were killed and seven people critically injured early yesterday in a three-vehicle accident on National Road 5 in Battambang province, police said.

Traffic official Men Borey said a van speeding from Pailin province to Phnom Penh collided with a black car, before a bus – which was also speeding – crashed into the van.

“We have concluded that the traffic accident was caused by a van; however, a [bus] . . . must also take responsibility as it hit that van from behind,” he said.

The accident follows another deadly Khmer New Year on the roads. According to National Police figures released on Friday, from April 13 to 17, 48 people were killed on the roads and more than 400 injured.

The average number of deaths per day during the holiday was double that of the national year-round average of five.

According to the National Police, many of last week’s accidents were caused by speeding, drunk-driving, fatigue and carelessness.