A school bus carrying 26 students crashed into a deep pond in Cambodia on November 10, killing five girls and injuring 21 others. The accident occurred at 7.10am about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Phnom Penh.
What happened
Witnesses reported that a motorcycle suddenly crossed in front of the fast-moving bus, causing the driver to slam on the brakes and skid into the roadside water. The 25-seat Mitsubishi passenger bus was carrying 12 boys and 14 girls at the time.
The driver of the bus has been arrested, according to the Phnom Penh Post.
Rescue efforts
Video posted on social media showed the bus sank just a few feet from shore, but deep enough to make escape very difficult. Villagers rushed to try and pull the children out.
Rescuers performed CPR on some of the children they extricated, said Sun Kunthy, one of those who tried to help.
Reaction and concerns
Kim Pagna, director of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation) Cambodia, offered condolences to the victims' families. He said that traffic accidents remain one of Cambodia's biggest problems and required tougher enforcement and more proactiveness.
