A traffic collision between a concrete wagon and a van along National Road 41 in Kampong Speu province’s Snam Krapoeu commune, in Kong Pisei district, claimed eight lives, including a pregnant woman and a four-year-old child, and injured nine others.

District police chief Touch Phearith told The Post on Wednesday that the fatal accident happened at midnight on Tuesday.

Among the victims were Huon Vanny, 39, the van driver; Phan Roth, 41; Brak Somon, 26; Kem Heang, 64; Seang Oeun, 27, and four months pregnant and her daughter Srey Nich, four. The seven were residents of Kampong Speu’s Baset district.

Two others – Sim Sophorn and Kim Hong, both 25, were residents of Takeo province’s Sambor commune in Traing district.

Nine others sustained serious or minor injuries.

“From the preliminary investigation and witnesses’ testimonies, the accident was due to the negligence of the van driver. He drove onto the lane of the concrete wagon which was travelling in the opposite direction,” said Phearith.

Phearith said before the incident, the van was seen travelling at high speed, even overtaking a heavy goods truck travelling on the same lane. Due to negligence, the van’s driver veered to the other lane and collided with the concrete wagon, which was also travelling at high speed.

The truck driver fled the scene after the collision.

Meanwhile, authorities in the area took the injured to hospitals in the capital and Takeo province. Families of the dead were also notified of the accident.

The vehicles in the collision were seized as evidence and kept at the Kong Pisei district police station.

Phearith said investigations to ascertain the identity of the truck driver is ongoing.