45 passengers injured after Cambodian train collides with bus, ‘irresponsible’ driver flees (Video)

Forty-five people were injured, five of them critically, in a train collision with a bus at a rail crossing in northwestern Cambodia on Friday, as confirmed by police.

Gen. Sar Theng, the police chief for Pursat province, described the incident in Krakor district around 11 a.m., where the bus attempted to cross the tracks despite the train's loud horn signaling its approach.

"The train hit the middle of the bus, pushing it several meters," Sar Theng reported.

Following the collision, the bus driver fled the scene, leaving behind the injured passengers who were subsequently assisted by police and local villagers and then transported to hospitals for medical attention.

Sar Theng noted that there used to be a barrier at the crossing, but it had broken and had not been replaced yet. He mentioned the presence of a prominent sign along the road warning drivers about the railroad crossing and advising them to proceed with caution.

In Cambodia, it is not uncommon for rail crossings to lack proper safety barriers.

According to Sar Theng, all the bus passengers were Cambodians who had hired the vehicle for a trip to a mountain nature resort.

He emphasized, "The incident would not have happened if the driver was driving responsibly," highlighting that train engineers typically sound their horn when approaching populated areas and intersections to alert people to stay clear of the tracks.

He attributed the accident to the driver's negligence in ignoring the train's horn signal.