A customs official was arrested after crashing his pickup truck into other cars and motorcycles near Russey Keo suspension bridge in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district, leaving at least four people dead and several others injured on January 20. 

Phnom Penh municipal police spokesman Sam Vichheka said on January 21 that authorities were questioning the driver and gathering evidence. 

“We summoned the relatives of the deceased and injured to file a complaint against the offender, initiating court proceedings. There is a possibility of referring the case to court on January 22,” he said.

According to a police report, the four people were instantly killed at the scene while two others were severely injured and rushed to Calmette Hospital for intensive care. 

Identified as Neang Sam On, an official at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the report revealed he was driving under the influence of alcohol, registering a blood alcohol level of 0.54 mg/l. The pickup crashed into two cars and four motorcycles. 

A traffic accident in Russey Keo district, Phnom Penh, on January 20. BTV

Kim Pagna, country director of Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation, said road accidents remain a concern for the government and the general population.

He suggested that traffic officers strengthen law enforcement around the clock, with a particular focus on night time, to reduce road accidents.

According to the National Police, 2003 saw a total of 3,317 road accidents, resulting in 1,590 fatalities and 4,515 injuries. 

The number of accidents increased by 341 cases, or 11 per cent, from the 2,976 recorded the previous year. Fatality rate declined by 11, or seven per cent, from the 1,709 reported in 2022.