At least seven people died instantly on November 2 in a road accident caused by a faulty tire that detached from a car while it was speeding in Kampot province’s Dang Tong district.

Provincial police chief Mao Chanmathurith told The Post that the deceased included the driver, four women and two children. Their bodies were handed over to their homes in Chumkiri district for a funeral.

“He [driver] was speeding while carrying too many passengers – seven people – in the sedan. So, when the tire fell off, the car suddenly veered into a canal near the road at the Kilometre 94 post on National Road 41 in Dang Tong district,” he said.

A Dang Tong district police officer who asked not to be named said the incident happened in a remote area, so there was nobody there to help them in time.

“When the police reached the scene, the car was already in the water with all the seven, including two children aged 10 and 12, trapped inside,” he said.

Chanmathurith called on people to respect road traffic laws and drive carefully to avoid accidents which can result in tragedy.

Road accidents remain a cause for concern in Cambodia. According to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, the number of road accidents and casualties across the country jumped in October, with 340 injuries and 140 deaths recorded.

Sar Kheng attributed the jump to increased road use as the Covid-19 situation has improved.

October saw a total of 243 road accidents nationwide, 23 more than the previous month, or 10 per cent. The number of injuries totalled 340, up by 66 compared to September, or about 24 per cent. The death toll rose to 140, an increase of 21 from September, or about 18 per cent.