Preah Sihanouk officials will file a complaint today to the provincial court against the owner of a container truck that caused a traffic accident on Friday, killing 19 people including the truck driver and seriously injuring eight others.

Twenty-five people were travelling to a wedding party in Preah Sihanouk town when the truck collided with their minivan in Mouy village.

Provincial deputy traffic police chief Ket Sopheak said police would accuse truck owner Leang Sokkheng under articles 70 and 82 of the Traffic Law.

“We did not arrest the owners of the truck because they did not drive the truck, but they have to be responsible for the accident by paying [compensation] to the [families of the] dead and the injured,” said Ket Sopheak.

“The container truck driver drove his truck too fast while the road is curved and slipped because it was raining which caused [him]…to hit the electricity pole and crash into the 15-seat minivan.”

Ket Sopheak added that seven people were sent to a hospital in Vietnam for treatment and the truck’s conductor was being treated at Kampong Speu provincial hospital.

Article 70 of the Traffic Law states that the owner or manager of a vehicle is responsible if a traffic accident caused by their vehicle leads to damages.

Article 82 states that those who unintentionally cause death while driving shall be imprisoned from one to three years, and/or fined from 2 million riels (US$990) to 6 million riels (US$1,486).

Five people died and eight were seriously injured in a head-on collision on National Road 4 in Preah Sihanouk last month.

Preap Chanvibol, director of the Land Transport Department at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said today that ministry officials would meet with the Interior Ministry on Wednesday to discuss measures against traffic accidents.