A family was struck by tragedy in a high-speed pile-up in Phnom Penh on Sunday night that killed at least three people and left several injured.

Officials said yesterday that the “dreadful” traffic accident was caused by a large truck, which one official said belonged to a company owned by the son of businessman and ruling Cambodian People’s Party Senator Ly Yong Phat, attempting to overtake a car on National Road 4.

The truck hit a car travelling at speed in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district while attempting the risky manoeuvre, according to Seng Chanthorn, a deputy in the city’s traffic police.

“This dreadful traffic accident was caused by the driver, who drove the lorry and trailer carrying a container and works for the company of Phat Bun," he said.

Chanthorn said that there were eight people in the car hit by the truck, all of whom were related. Khet Chandara, 51, a civil servant in the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation who was driving the car, was pronounced dead at the scene along with his 58-year-old sister-in-law, Ek Rotha, who was a teacher.

Chandara’s niece, 32-year-old Hyng Chanpidor, died later at Calmette Hospital from blood loss. Two men and three children were also receiving treatment at Calmette and Kantha Bopha Hospital.

Another car smashed into the back of Chandara’s vehicle shortly after the truck ploughed into the family’s car. The driver of the truck that caused the accident escaped the scene, police said.

“At the accident, the forces of Brigade 70 intervened to cut the car open to bring the victims out and save them by sending them to hospital. Then the authorities brought cranes to transport the three vehicles and impounded them,” he added.

Chandara, Chanpidor and Rotha were cremated at the Toek Thla Pagoda yesterday, said Van Than, Rotha’s son and the father of one of the children injured in the crash.

After the funeral, which is set to last seven days, Than said the family would file a formal complaint to demand compensation from the owner of the truck. Phat Bun, the alleged owner of the truck, could not be reached.