Police in Banteay Meanchey said three men died on Sunday evening after their car overturned and plunged into a canal in Serchin village in Preah Ponlae commune.

“Witnesses told us the accident . . . was caused by the driver speeding and trying to overtake another vehicle dangerously,” said provincial deputy police chief Um Sophal.

He said the driver, Huy Lasang, 32, had tried to overtake a truck on a blind corner. Lasang then swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, and his car crashed into the canal.

“The villagers in the area tried to help but they could not open the car’s doors,” Sophal said. “They tried to break the windows of the sinking vehicle but it was too late – the men had already drowned.”

The other two victims were 32-year-old Sen Tola, a colleague of Lasang’s at the Coca-Cola Company, and Pru Socheat, a teacher at Russey Krok Primary School, who was also 32.

Sophal said the family’s of all three men had already claimed there bodies and returned to their homes for funeral rites.