Man run over by 'norrie'

A passenger boards a rail trolley cart in Pursat. Photo by: Rick Valenzuela

via CAAI

Tuesday, 23 November 2010 15:01 Sun Narin

A 22-YEAR-OLD man was killed in Pursat province’s Krakor district after he was run over by a rail trolley cart – known as a norrie – on Saturday.

Thnoat Chhrum commune police official Hong Savon said that a mix of heat and long-term use caused one of the norrie’s wheels to break. One of the passengers, Kong Tit from Kandieng district, was thrown from the norrie and fell in front of the cart. He suffered a fractured skull, a severe leg injury and several injuries to his arms. He died due to blood loss on the way to hospital.

He said the norrie – also called a bamboo horse – was on its way to Pursat town and was carrying the victim and an additional 20 passengers, as well as three tonnes of rice. Police are now searching for the lorry driver who fled the scene, and who Hong Savon said was not permitted to use the tracks.

He added that in late 2009, there was a similar incident which seriously injured five people.

Ly Borin, the director of Rail Road Department in Phnom Penh, said that “[driving norries] can cause accidents every time. The government is not responsible for them because it is illegal to drive the norries and the owner will be punished.“

He added that the railway is designed for the use of trains only, and that authorities do not allow any norries to do business on the rail line.