Tree surgeons kill 16-year-old girl by toppling palm tree onto her moped as she drives past in tragic accident in Cambodia
- Samai Saam was killed while taking her brother to school yesterday morning
- The palm tree fell on top of her, killing her instantly, and wounded her brother
- The two workers were concentrating on the tree and did not see her riding past
Two tree surgeons have been blamed for the death of a 16-year-old girl in Cambodia after she was crushed by a falling palm tree while riding a motorcycle.
Samai Saam, 16, was taking her 11-year-old brother Sen Ali to school yesterday morning when the trunk fell on top of her and killed her instantly.
The two workers say they did not notice the girl while they were busy felling the palm tree.
Samai Saam (circled left), 16, was taking her 11-year-old brother to school yesterday morning when the trunk fell on top of her motorcycle (right) and killed her instantly
Tol Nang, 38, and Phan Sophi, 36, were arrested after the freak accident outside the Chambak Raingsey primary school
Tol Nang, 38, and Phan Sophi, 36, had been using chainsaws to fell the palm tree on the roadside outside the school gates in Kampong Chhnang.
They were arrested after the freak accident outside the Chambak Raingsey primary school.
They told police they were not aware of the girl on the motorcycle as they were concentrating on cutting the tree.
The younger boy was injured and taken to hospital.
Police arrived at the scene after the fatal accident. The men were brought to the station and detained for questioning.
A police spokesman said both men have been arrested and detained in custody while officers investigate.
They added: ‘We are collecting more evidence and questioning witnesses at the scene while they are under custody.
‘From the initial investigation, they could face charges for negligent behaviour causing the death of another person.’
The motorcycle after it was crushed by the palm tree. The girl was killed instantly and her younger brother was injured and taken to hospital
The scene after the girl’s death, caused by a falling palm tree as two workers were using chainsaws to fell the tree on the roadside outside the school gates in Kampong Chhnang
People retrieve the girl’s body from the wreckage and inspect the fallen tree after the accident which killed a teenage girl