PHNOM PENH, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed on the spot and seven others injured after their speedy passenger van collided with a lorry on Friday in southeastern Prey Veng province, a senior police official said.
The fatal road crash happened at about 8:00 a.m. local time in Pea Raing district when the van driver carelessly overtook the lorry and hit on the side of the lorry, said Major General Sreng Chea, police chief of Prey Veng province.
"The right side of the van was torn apart in the crash, leaving 5 passengers dead and 7 others injured," he said in a report. "The drivers of both vehicles have been detained for questioning."
Road crashes are a leading cause of death in the Southeast Asian country. According to government figures, road accidents claimed 1,717 lives and injured 6,607 others in 2016.
It is estimated that the country loses about 300 million U.S. dollars a year due to road accidents.
