An infantry officer was arrested on Sunday in Kampong Chhnang after crashing his truck – which was used for transporting tanks, but was not loaded at the time – into a motorbike, injuring two women, local authorities said.

Deputy district police chief Ros Bunarith said the accident took place at 5:30pm in Boribor district’s Melom commune. The truck was on National Road 5, headed toward Phnom Penh, when “the driver drove in a careless way, trying to overtake other cars, then crashed into the motorbike”, Bunarith said.

Loch Sovannara, deputy provincial police chief, said the truck driver was wearing an RCAF uniform and acknowledged that he was part of a military unit.

The women, both NGO staffers, sustained minor injuries and are still in the provincial hospital.

RCAF infantry spokesman Mao Phalla said he was unaware of the incident.

Last week, all tanks that had been deployed at the Thai border in Preah Vihear were ordered to return for repairs at bases around Phnom Penh. Some troops were also being recalled, among them members of the prime minister’s Bodyguard Unit.