A hihigh-speed police chase in Kandal province, sparked by a teenager performing stunts on his motorbike, has ended with the death of two men.

Hor Sam Ol, deputy police chief of Takhmao commune in Kandal province, said yesterday that two military police officers were driving  on a motorbike when a teenager sped past them on Monday. He was performing stunts on his motorbike – including a wheelie and dragging his kickstand against the pavement to create sparks.

A high-speed chase ensued, Hor Sma Ol said, during which the teenager overtook a van. When policemen tried to follow they hit an oncoming motorbike, carrying two Vietnamese men.

Che Soklay, a 20-year-old military police officer, and a 27-year-old Vietnamese man died in the crash.

“They drove like the wind, badly crashed and [he] died of serious injuries – while the teenager made it away,” Hor Sam Ol said. Provincial deputy police chief Lang Lon said that three ambulances came to the scene. He said the wounded military police officer was sent to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.

The other Vietnamese man   was initially sent to the Chak Angre Polyclinic medical facility but was later transferred to the Cambodian Russian Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, when the extent of his injuries were realised.

He remains in a serious condition.

The vehicles have been taken into custody, said Lang Lon, adding that police “will solve the problem later.”

Chea Samoeun, chief of traffic police in Takhmao town, declined to comment on the case yesterday.