Six tourists were injured in a crash while travelling to Siem Reap from Poipet on Monday afternoon.

Four Britons and two Canadians suffered cuts, bruises and sprains when the van they had hired from the So Chin Company in Poipet veered into the roadside with a flat tire.

The accident took place about one kilometre outside the town, with the van narrowly missing a nearby pond.

Sao Sareoun, Poipet deputy chief of police, said that the accident could have been far more serious.

“Fortunately, the car did not fall into the pond. If it had fallen into the pond, the travellers could have possibly drowned to death,” he said.

Police are now searching for the driver of the vehicle, who fled the scene before authorities arrived. His current condition is unknown.

Three of the tourists were said to be “seriously injured”, but decided to hire a second vehicle and continue on to Siem Reap without help from authorities.