A man was killed and two more were badly injured on their way to a land protest in Preah Vihear after a mini-tractor they were riding came off the road on Monday morning in Rovieng district.

Om Yan, 51, was on his way to join more than 150 others in a dispute against the Thy Ngar Company when the accident happened, according to Poek Sophon, chief of advocacy for local NGO Ponlok Khmer.

“Om Yan sustained critical head wounds and died immediately,” he said.

According to Sophorn, 2,000 protesters were expected to attend but many were blocked from the area by authorities. Sophorn suggested the accident was caused by authorities striking fear in the men, causing them to drive recklessly.

One of the injured men, Duong Phan, 54, was rushed to Phnom Penh, where he received emergency surgery for head injuries, and remains in critical condition.

The third man was reported to have sustained serious back injuries and is being treated at the provincial hospital.

According to Deputy Provincial Governor Un Chenda, Yan was not actually involved in the land dispute but was merely accompanying other villagers.