PHNOM PENH, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a bus plunging into a river after hitting a bridge's rail in central Cambodia's Kampong Thom province increased to 16, a local police officer said on Thursday evening.
The tragic accident happened on a national road in Santuk district at about 3:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, said Siv Sovanna, deputy police chief of Santuk district.
"Three more bodies were found, bringing the total number of the dead to 16 so far," he told Xinhua over the telephone.
Besides the dead, 24 others sustained injuries in the crash, he said, adding that the bus was carrying a total of 40 people when it crashed into the bridge's rail and fell into the river.
Drowsy driving was the most likely cause of the accident, Sovanna said, adding that all victims are Cambodians. ■