Police arrested a truck driver on Tuesday after he crashed into and killed a 67-year-old woman and her 5-year-old granddaughter in Kandal province, local police officials said Wednesday.
Ray Khem was riding her bicycle with her granddaughter, Vuth Sok Kieng, on the back in Khsach Kandal district’s Puk Russei commune, said Nov Sophoan, the district traffic police chief.
At about 1:30 p.m., a speeding Hyundai truck driven by Sok Den, 19, rear-ended them, killing Ms. Khem and Ms. Sok Kieng instantly, according to Mr. Sophoan.
“After the crash, the suspect sped up and fled the scene,” Mr. Sophoan said. “Our police officers followed his truck, but we were afraid he would cause more accidents so they followed slowly.”
The hourlong chase came to an end when a second group of police officers blocked Mr. Den’s truck with a barricade on National Road 1 in Phnom Penh’s Chbar Ampov district, where police arrested the suspect, Mr. Sophoan said.
“When police checked the truck after arresting the suspect, they did not find a driver’s license,” he said. “We don’t know why he drove the truck without a license.”
Under questioning at the Khsach Kandal district police station, Mr. Den said he accidently crashed into the bicycle because Ms. Khem was riding erratically, and claimed he fled the scene out of fear locals would attack him, according to Mr. Sophoan.
Mr. Sophoan said Mr. Den is originally from Svay Rieng province and started working for a private company in Kandal about a month ago, although the police official could not recall the name of the firm. Mr. Den was transporting empty 20-liter water bottles at the time of the accident.
Kandal provincial police chief Vat Sophal said Mr. Den was being held at the provincial police station and would be brought to the provincial court today to face charges.
“The suspect’s truck and the victim’s bicycle are being kept at the district police station until the case is resolved,” he added.
