The bodies were recovered from the sleeper bus after it was pulled from the water. More than 10 people remain missing. Supplied
PHNOM PENH: The bodies of at least 13 people have been recovered from a sleeper bus which plunged off a bridge in Kampong Thom province at 4am on Thursday (Nov 20) morning. Over 20 people were pulled from the water, while more than 10 remain missing.
“The bus was on the way from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Thirteen people died when the bus fell into the water. The 13 victims died inside the bus,” said a Sandan district policeman.
The accident took place in Chey Chumnas village, Kakoh commune, Sandan district, according to police.
A provincial police officer announced that police were gathering information related to the accident, and ambulances were transporting the survivors to the hospital.
A former commune police officer reported that the accident occurred at the O’ Prasat bridge in Chey Chumnas village.
He believed the accident was likely caused by the bus driver falling asleep, causing the bus to hit the bridge barrier and plunge into the water.
“There was no collision with anything else there. Police at the scene concluded that the bus driver may have fallen asleep, hit the right-side bridge barrier, and fell into the water. The water is deep there — around five metres. I saw the bus being pulled out of the water with bodies inside. It was heartbreaking,” he added.
The bodies of the victims have been sent to Kakoh pagoda, which is nearby. - The Phnom Penh/ANN
