A grisly traffic accident claimed three lives yesterday morning in Kratie’s Snuol district when a truck piled with timber blew out a tyre and flipped on its side.

According to district traffic regulation director Chhuon Tong, six labourers were also injured during the incident. Authorities are searching for the driver, who fled the scene shortly after the accident, Tong added.

The three deceased labourers have been identified as Ouk Va, 37, Thean Kongny, 29, and Khoun Phea, 34. All three hail from Svay Chreah commune, district authorities said.

An invest-igation into the accident is ongoing and the injured are being treated at a provincial hospital, director of provincial traffic Yu Sovantha said yesterday.