PHNOM PENH: Police have arrested the driver of a bus that plunged into a pond in Kandal province this morning, with preliminary findings pointing to speeding and careless driving as possible causes.
Five high school students lost their lives in the accident, with 21 other injured.
The accident occurred at about 7.10am on Tuesday (Nov 10) on National Road 8, between kilometre markers 28 and 29, in Anlong village, Prek Tameak commune, Ksach Kandal district, according to a statement from the Kandal provincial police.
The 25-seat Mitsubishi passenger bus was driven by Meun Thearith, 31, a resident of Roka commune, Pea Reang district, Prey Veng province. It was carrying 26 students, including 12 boys and 14 girls.
The crash killed five girls, while three students sustained serious injuries and 18 minor ones, police said.
The five dead were identified as Seang Sophavotey, 14; Leng Youly, 13; Ly Nita, 13; Seiha Suosdey, 14; and Kheang Chingching, 12. All were from Pea Reang district.
Police said the vehicle was privately owned and had been hired by the students’ parents to transport them from Pea Reang district to BELTEI International School’s Prek Tameak campus in Ksach Kandal district.
“Our preliminary assessment suggested that speeding and careless driving may have caused the accident,” said the quick reaction unit of the Kandal Provincial Police Commissariat.
It said a motorcycle was crossing the road at an intersection when the driver allegedly swerved to the right to avoid it, causing the bus to lose control and plunge into the pond.
The driver has been detained, and police are preparing a case for further legal proceedings, according to the statement.
Social media users have urged police to locate the motorcyclist for questioning as well.
Kim Pagna, director of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation) Cambodia, extended his condolences to the victims’ families.
He noted that traffic accidents remain one of Cambodia’s biggest challenges, requiring tougher enforcement and more proactive action.
In this case, where the transportation service was not provided by the school, Pagna said schools should work with authorities and traffic police to ensure private transportation services used by students are inspected. Checks should cover drivers’ licences, vehicle safety and the number of passengers carried.
“Schools should be open to receiving comments from the public and students’ parents, although the bus is not under the control of the school. They could have a hotline to take calls from the public or students’ parents about transportation behaviour, both for school buses and private transportation for students,” he said.
He added that schools should regularly remind drivers and students about road safety, including the importance of wearing helmets and driving on the correct side of the road for students who travel to school on their own motorbikes.
Pagna also urged authorities to take a more proactive approach to checking driving licences, educating drivers about safe driving practices, inspecting vehicles and setting speed limits for student transportation services.
“If possible, I want the authorities to set a speed limit for vehicles transporting students at 30 to 40 kilometres per hour when students are on board. This speed can enable drivers to brake in time in an emergency,” he said.
He also encouraged schools and authorities to place large stickers on vehicles transporting students to alert other road users and encourage the public to give them priority.
“It is really sad to see the loss of lives just travelling to school. They are our next generation. The public should share their understanding and give priority to vehicles transporting students. Such understanding should also apply when students are travelling on their own or with their parents,” he said.
Pagna also raised concerns about dangerous traffic conditions when students leave school.
He said young students are sometimes seen holding up stop signs on roads to help manage traffic, a responsibility he said should instead be handled by local authorities and traffic police.
He urged local authorities and police to take a more active role in managing traffic around schools, rather than leaving young students to direct vehicles. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
