A man and two women riding on a motorcycle were killed on Thursday after they collided with a lorry carrying sand which travelled in the opposite direction on National Road 7 in Tonle Bet Loeu village, Tbong Khmum district, Tbong Khmum province.
The lorry allegedly collided with the motorcycle head-on as it (motorcycle) overtook a car. The lorry driver fled the scene after the accident.
District police station chief of staff Ten Sarom said Oak Sao Hao, also known as Mab, 33, was riding the motorcycle. The passengers were his wife, Sorn Sokhkoeun, 33, and her friend, Sin Sokhen, 27. The victims lived in O’Reang-ou district’s Damril commune.
“The truck and the motorcycle were travelling in opposition directions. The motorcyclist tried but failed to overtake a small car. The oncoming lorry crashed into it head-on. After the crash, the lorry driver fled the scene. We have compounded the lorry and motorcycle,” he said.
District governor Keng Bunna said he had not received a report on the accident.
Tonle Bet commune police chief Euk Sarin said he had received information about the accident, but didn’t have anything to add to the report.
A witness to the accident who asked to remain anonymous said he saw the victims riding on a motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction to the lorry. Upon attempting to overtake a car, the motorcyclist veered into the lorry’s path, killing the three riders instantly.
The witness said the lorry driver fled the scene leaving behind his vehicle.
“I saw him [Sao Hao] riding not very fast. But upon overtaking the car, he rode fast and then the oncoming truck crashed into him,” the witness said.
The National Police’s Department of Traffic Police and Public Order said that on Monday alone, there were 12 traffic accidents in the country. Seven people died in the accidents, eight were seriously injured and seven sustained minor injuries.
