Four workers in a lorry were killed in a road accident when their vehicle collided with a truck on Monday in Kandorl commune, in Koh Kong province’s Botum Sakor district.

District police chief of public order Keo Kinara said on Tuesday that the lorry transported soap products from Prey Nop district, in Preah Sihanouk province, to neighbouring Koh Kong province.

While on the move, its front left tire burst, causing it to go out of control and collide with the truck coming from the opposite direction on National Road 48 in Botum Sakor district. The 2pm incident killed all four on the spot.

After the fatal accident, the truck driver and his assistant fled the scene. Provincial traffic police conducted forensic examinations at the site and concluded that the accident was caused by the lorry. The two vehicles were impounded at the district police station, he added.

“The men were trapped inside the front compartment of the lorry and died on the spot. It took us and some local people over one hour to extricate the bodies,” he said, adding that the company, for which the four worked, also visited the scene and helped remove the bodies.

Botum Sakor district police chief Sok Phorn identified the victims as Sou Samnang, 25, from Kandal’s Koh Thom district; Meas Virak, 34, from Svay Rieng province; Seang Kry, 30, from Kampong Cham province and Bou Bunthorn, 30, from Prey Veng province.

“A representative of the company met with me and said they will compensate the families and pay for the funerals, but did not disclose the amount of compensation,” Kinara said.

The company’s representative who asked not to be named said by telephone on Tuesday that it sent the victims remains to their native province but declined to identify his company.

“We are paying compensation to the bereaved families,” he said.