Six Killed After Truck Smashes into Wreckage Site

Six people were killed, including the children of two well-known comedians, and 10 injured in two separate crashes in the same spot on Thursday night, police said.

The first crashed occurred as well-known Cambodian pop singer Khemarak Sereymon was traveling with a group of seven people to Sihanoukville to perform at a concert for International Women’s Day on Friday. Enroute, their vehicle collided with a transport truck on National Road 4 in Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nop district.

According to Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Tak Vantha, the accident occurred between 9 and 10 p.m. when the transport truck skidded and a shipping container fell off the back of the vehicle and crushed the left side of Mr. Sereymon’s Toyota Tundra, killing the driver and three passengers.

Mr. Sereymon, who was seated in the front passenger seat, sustained minor injuries and survived along with two other women and a 2-year-old girl who were also in the car.

The car’s driver, Ry Sophara, 25, as well as Chy Virak, 23, the son of comedian Koy, were killed along with Each Vannak, 33, the son of another comedian, Noy Samnang. Soum Sovannarith, 32, also died.

The four were crushed by the shipping container and died immediately, Mr. Vantha said.

Ms. Samnang said her son, Each Vannak, left behind a wife and three young sons aged 10, 9 and 8 years.

About three hours after the accident, another truck ploughed into crash site, where an ambulance, police officers, a car insurance company worker and recovery crane were working to help the injured and remove wreckage from the road.

The Angkor Beer truck killed two people, the crane driver and the insurance company workers at the scene of the first accident.

“A beer truck hit the crane and five other cars, killing the driver of the crane and a staffer of Caminco insurance company,” Mr. Vantha said, adding that the driver had apparently not seen the signs warning that there was an accident on the road.

The driver of the first truck crash fled the scene of the accident on foot as did the driver of the Angkor Beer truck, the police chief said.

Ke Socheath, from Caminco insurance, died immediately and crane driver Mom Sam Ol died four hours after arriving at the provincial referral hospital. Five more people were injured, including deputy district police chief Seng Chamroeun, who broke his arm.

Neither of the drivers has been identified yet.

“We are searching for them,” Mr. Vantha said.

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