A trafic accident on Tuesday evening in Svay Rieng province left at least eight garment workers in critical condition and 27 others slightly injured, police said.

Ouk Kunnary, deputy chief of traffic police, said that the incident took place at about 5:15pm on July 31, when the side wall of a truck driving uphill collapsed while holding about 50 garment workers from Kao Way factory.

“The incident did not claim the life of any worker,” Kunnary said. “The injured people were immediately taken for treatment at a hospital with intervention from police.”

According to Kunnary, the truck was overloaded with people and it should usually hold only between 25 to 30 people. Police are still searching for the driver, Nuon Serei Vathana, 24, who escaped after the incident.   

Injuries sustained during commutes to and from work comprised a high percentage of what the Ministry of Labour recently said it considered workplace accidents.

To contact the reporter on this story: Khoun Leakhana at [email protected]