Police in Kampong Cham province arrested a bus driver and his assistant shortly after their bus struck a tractor, injuring three people early on Monday morning.

The bus, loaded with 39 passengers, was on the way from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, when it hit the two-wheeled tractor in Chamkar Leu district, resulting in broken limbs and head injuries for the three people riding on the tractor.

The victims, all Chamkar Leu residents, were rushed to the district hospital, but later forwarded to Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh due to the severity of their injuries.

The driver, Lem Pisey, 28 and his assistant, Dort Yakkob, 28, were arrested three hours after the incident.

When police asked for their driver’s licences, the pair said their company, Kampuchea Angkor Express Co Ltd, kept their licenses in the office.

“However, we did not believe them and we will continue investigating the case,” said Lem Sothy, the Chamkar Leu district deputy police chief in charge of traffic.

Yesterday, the suspects were sent to court on preliminary charges of causing injury and driving without a licence.

Nov Keavirak, the director of Kampuchea Angkor Express, confirmed that the company did keep its driver’s licences.

“To avoid the escape from responsibility when an accident happens, the company keeps their driver’s licence and lets them have a copy sealed by Phnom Penh Municipal Hall,” Keavirak said.