Immigration police officials' car crashed into an articulated lorry in Kampot province in the early hours of Monday. Police
Three immigration police officials at Kampot province’s Prek Chak International Border Checkpoint died at the scene after their car crashed into an articulated lorry in the early hours of Monday, while a fourth passed away on the way to hospital.
A fifth was seriously injured and taken to Vietnam for treatment.
Kampot provincial deputy traffic police chief Im Chhuon told The Post on Monday that the accident occurred at around 3am on Monday morning in Chum Kriel village in Teuk Chhou district’s Chum Kriel commune.
The dead were identified as Colonel Nhib Phearum, a passport inspector; Tan Pheng, the deputy chief of the Prek Chak International Border Checkpoint; Colonel Khy Lok; and Lieutenant Colonel Sgnuon Sarath.
Colonel Thai Vireak Samrith Sela Vibol sustained serious injuries and was sent to Vietnam.
“After inspecting the scene, it is clear that the car carrying the officials hit the lorry from behind. It may have been speeding because its bonnet was stuck in the wheels of the lorry’s trailer,” Chhuon said.
Citing witnesses, Sou Bunthoeurn, the deputy police chief of Teuk Chhou district, said that before the crash, a white Toyota Highlander SUV was seen driving in the direction of Kep from Kampot town.
It struck a lorry travelling the same way from behind in Chum Kriel village. The driver of the lorry fled the scene before the police arrived.
Officers found three men dead in the car, while another died on the way to the Kep provincial referral hospital.
Upon inspection of the scene, the police ascertained they were immigration police officials at Prek Chak International Border Checkpoint in Kampot province.
Two of the dead men were from Trapaing Sangke village in Teuk Chhou district’s Trapaing Sangke commune
Their bodies were taken home by their parents for funeral ceremonies. The bodies of the other two deceased were taken to Phnom Penh by their families.
The condition of Sela Vibol after being sent to Vietnam was not known at the time of press.
After inspecting the scene, police impounded the two vehicles at the Teuk Chhou district police station pending further investigation.
A report issued by the Ministry of Interior said road accidents claimed 1,033 lives and injured 3,224 in the first six months of this year. This is an increase of 103 and 827, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
