Tragedy strikes: Salgaa heartbreaking accident claims 11 lives

Rift Valley Provincial General Medical Superintendent James Waweru expressed his profound sorrow over the tragic incident, stating, "It is with deep regret that I confirm the passing of five more individuals, bringing the death toll to 11. Among those who lost their lives were a six-month-old baby. We are doing everything in our power to provide the best care for the survivors, including a child who sustained critical head injuries."

Waweru further revealed the extent of the injuries sustained by the victims, adding, "The mother of the child currently undergoing treatment at the hospital has suffered two broken legs, in addition to other severe injuries."

Detailing the immediate response at the scene, Waweru explained, "Upon receiving the emergency calls, the hospital received seven patients from the accident site, unfortunately, three of whom could not be saved and were pronounced dead on arrival."

Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi recounted the events leading to the tragedy, saying, "Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident occurred when the truck driver lost control of the vehicle, veering off the road and colliding head-on with a matatu belonging to Farasi Sacco, which was en route from Kitale to Nairobi."

Emphasizing the severity of the collision, Ndanyi added, "The impact of the collision led to the tragic deaths of six individuals, including the matatu driver. Regrettably, the truck driver fled the scene immediately following the incident. We have launched a comprehensive search operation to locate and bring the driver to justice."

In the aftermath of the accident, the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Nakuru County Mortuary for further examination, while the vehicles involved were towed to Nakuru Central Police Station for forensic investigation. The local authorities are working tirelessly to bring closure to the affected families and ensure the necessary legal procedures are followed.