Four people were injured on Saturday evening when a health official crashed into two motorbikes in Kompong Cham province and six others were hurt shortly afterward when the ambulance transporting two of the victims crashed into two houses, officials said Sunday.
The first accident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. in Chamkar Loeu district when Horn Chinheat, 44, a physician and the head of the O’Reang-ou district health center in Tbong Khmum province, rear-ended the motorbikes with his Toyota Highlander, according to Chamkar Loeu police chief Ith Dara.
“First he crashed into a motorbike, injuring two people, and then he tried to escape from the scene and crashed into another motorbike about a kilometer away, seriously injuring two more people,” he said.
According to Mr. Dara, police chased Dr. Chinheat to Kompong Siem district, where he pulled over and was arrested.
Shortly after the accident, two ambulances arrived at the scene to take the four victims to the provincial referral hospital, he said.
However, a tire on one of the ambulances blew out en route, causing the driver to lose control and crash into two houses abutting National Road 71 in Chamkar Loeu’s Bos Khnor commune, he said.
Mr. Dara said the ambulance had been transporting two people who were injured by Dr. Chinheat, as well as two of their relatives. Both relatives were injured in the ambulance accident, he added, along with four people in the houses.
“One man who was accompanying his relative in the ambulance was seriously injured in the incident.” he said, adding that all of the injured were sent to the provincial referral hospital.
Mr. Dara said Dr. Chinheat was being held at the district police station and would be handed over to provincial police today.
Provincial police chief Pen Roath said Dr. Chinheat would be sent to the provincial court after being questioned by his officers.
Keo Vannak, director of the Tbong Khmum provincial health department, said he visited Dr. Chinheat on Sunday and the doctor told him he left the scene of the initial accident to look for help.
“He said he tried to find somewhere with police for help, but he could not find the police and so he kept driving,” he said.
