Road accidents kill 34 Cambodians during Pchum Ben holiday

Road traffic accidents had killed 34 people and injured 147 others in Cambodia during the celebrations of Pchum Ben, or honoring-the-dead festival, from Oct. 10 to 12, the National Police reported on Tuesday.

"Some 132 of the dead and injured people traveled by motorcycles without helmets," the National Police said in its website.

Some 74 cases of road traffic crashes were reported during the holiday, it said, adding that 42 percent of the accidents were caused by high-speed driving, 11 percent by overtaking, 8 percent by alcohol driving, and the rest of the accidents were due to neglect and law violation drivings.

A remarkable fatal crash during the holiday occurred on Oct. 11 in southern Takeo province when a tour bus smashed head-on into a family's car, leaving 3 dead on the spot and 5 others injured.

According to the National Police, the number of the dead during the holiday this year was 1 less than that of last year, while the number of the injured was also 9 less than that of last year.

Pchum Ben is the country's 2nd largest traditional festival after lunar New Year.