Four people died in Banteay Meanchey province Friday in two accidents, which involved a motorbike hitting a bicycle and a truck later barreling through the scene of the first accident, police said, adding they are searching for the truck driver, who fled the scene.
The deadly chain of events began at 6:30 pm when a motorbike carrying three men collided with a bicycle on National Road 6 in Preah Netr Preah district’s Toek Chor commune, said Keo Bunyoeun, district police chief.
“This is the fault of the motorbike driver who lost control and was drunk,” he said, adding that two people on the motorbike were killed: passenger Leav Peout, 48, and the driver identified only as Nhe, 35. The cyclist sustained only minor injuries but the accident seriously injured a third person on the motorcycle, Mak Chhean, 46, Mr Bunyoeun said.
Thirty minutes later as local villager, Lum Kimloeun, attempted to help the injured man, Mr Chhean, a truck speeding along National Road 6, ran over both men. While Mr Kimloeun died at the scene, Mr Chhean died at a referral hospital, Mr Bunyoeun said.
“I have never scene an accident like this,” Mr Bunyoeun added.
The driver of the truck fled the scene, though a passenger, Prach Vutha, was arrested and released without charges Saturday, he said.
“He told us the truck brakes malfunctioned and did not work, but I don’t believe that. They weren’t paying attention when driving their truck,” Mr Bunyoeun said.
He said police only know the driver’s given name, Muth, and that police are searching for the 23-year-old in his home district of Mongkol Borei.
In a completely separate accident, a Toyota Camry crashed into a motorbike killing the motorbike’s driver Saturday on National Road 5 in Mongkol Borei district, said Phon Salin, Mongkol Borei district police chief.
The victim, Vat Socheam 34, died instantly, her passenger was seriously injured. Police have not identified the driver who fled the scene, Mr Salin said.
