A minivan carrying 16 garment workers crashed into a Toll Royal Railway freight train as it was crossing National Road 3 in Kandal province Saturday night, leaving 12 women injured, police officials said Sunday.
As the 20-carriage freight train was traveling through Kandal Stung district’s Trapaing Veng commune, flashing lights and the blasting of its horn heralded the train’s approach, but the minivan did not heed the warning, said commune police chief Has Saroeun.
“The minivan driver was driving and talking on his phone, and although there were motorbikes and other cars that stopped, the driver didn’t stop, and crashed into the train,” Mr. Saroeun said.
Twelve women were injured, two seriously, and sent to Calmette and Preah Kossamak hospitals in Phnom Penh for treatment, said Pa Vanny, the district’s public order police chief.
“One woman broke her left leg and another women suffered from a broken thigh bone in her right leg,” Mr. Vanny said.
A representative of Toll Royal Railway had visited the injured victims in the hospital, said Mr. Vanny, adding that the minivan driver—who he declined to name—had not been arrested and compensation for the injured workers was being negotiated.
According to district police chief Men Chanrith, the driver had already agreed to pay for victims’ medical bills. “The driver will pay the medical bills for the victims and the minivan owner will contribute some money as well,” Mr. Chanrith said.
Toll Royal Railway CEO David Kerr said Sunday the crash was still under investigation and declined to comment.
(Additional reporting by Dene-Hern Chen)
