Ten die in K Speu road crash
TEN people were killed and five seriously injured in a traffic accident involving three vehicles on National Road 4 on Saturday night in Treng Trayoeng commune in Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Sruoch district.
Tab Lon, the prov incia l deput y police chief in charge of road traf fic, on Sunday named three of the deceased as Chun Chanrith, Kim Chat and Heng Makara, who were officia ls working at the General Department of Customs and Excise.
He said all the victims’ bodies had been handed over to their families to conduct funeral rites, except the body of one woman who could not be identified. Her body is being kept temporarily at Kampong Speu provincial hospital.
“After inspecting the scene on Sunday morning, nationa l and prov incia l police committee experts have determined that this horrific accident was caused by a Virak Buntham minibus,” Lon said.
Long Naphal, the head of genera l administration at Vira k Buntham Express Tour & Travel, told The Post on Sunday t hat the police’s assessment was ent irely dif ferent f rom t he init ia l assessment by prov incia l experts on the night of t he accident, which was widely shared online, including on the Nationa l Police website.
“It is difficult for my company to accept the assessment provided by the joint police committee. Now my company is working with an insurance company to pay compensation to the families of the victims who were travelling with our company,” he said.
Naphal said the insurance company
had sent a representative to investigate the crime scene.
“The insurance company determined that the accident was not caused by our minibus driver. However, this was denied by the investigating committee.
“Currently, a company representative is attempting to secure a new assessment of t he case. The identit y of the driver of the Hyundai is unknown. The driver ran away on the night of the accident,” he said.
Naphal said there were nine people in the minibus, five of whom were killed, including the driver, while the other four passengers sustained serious injuries.
According to a report issued by the police committee, which was obtained by The Post on Sunday, the 25-seat minibus owned by Virak Buntham Express Tour & Travel was travelling from Preah Sihanouk province to Phnom Penh.
The report said the minibus tried to overtake another vehicle but collided with a Hyundai truck travelling in the opposite direction.
The minibus then collided with a Toyota Highlander carrying five passengers including the three customs officials.
“After the collision, the Highlander and the Hyundai burst into flames,” the report said.
All five passengers in the Highlander were killed instantly.
The injured were sent to Kampong Speu provincial hospital, the report said, while the driver of the Hyundai truck fled the scene.