Three killed, several injured in Kericho-Mau Summit road crash

Three people were killed in a tragic accident involving five vehicles on the Kericho-Mau Summit road on Saturday evening.

The collision, which occurred at approximately 3.45 p.m. in the Kapmakaa area, involved a 14-seater matatu transporting passengers towards Kericho and an oil tanker travelling in the opposite direction.

According to Kericho Traffic Enforcement Officer Selina Chirchir, the oil tanker driver lost control, leading to a head-on crash with the matatu. She noted that the impact caused the matatu to overturn and subsequently struck three other vehicles travelling behind it.

“The driver of the oil tanker lost control of the vehicle and hit the matatu head-on causing it to roll,” Chirchir said.

The deceased included a woman and two men who were passengers in the matatu. Several other passengers sustained injuries and were taken to Kericho County Referral Hospital for treatment.

None of the drivers involved in the accident were injured.

Chirchir indicated that the cause of the accident is under investigation, noting that heavy rainfall in the area might have contributed to poor visibility for drivers.

The incident follows another fatal accident just two days prior, where a lorry transporting LPG gas collided with a government vehicle at Fort Tenan in the same county.

“We are sensitising our drivers to stop in cases of poor visibility on the roads and to adhere to all traffic regulations,” Chirchir said.

Surge in road crashes

A surge in tragic road accidents has been reported across the country, with several lives lost even as state agencies rush to address the issue.

Earlier this week, a devastating crash at Koguta on the Londiani-Muhoroni road resulted in nine fatalities. A 14-seater Public Service Vehicle collided head-on with a lorry, causing extensive damage to the matatu, shattering its windows and scattering glass across the road.

Last weekend, 12 people died in a horrific accident at the notorious Nithi Bridge. The victims were returning from a parental blessing ceremony in Meru when their vehicle collided head-on with another coming from the opposite direction.

Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Zacchaeus Ng'eno confirmed the accident, stating that the driver was unfamiliar with the road.

“So far, we are confirming that we have collected 12 bodies from this scene and two others injured. This accident involved two motor vehicles, one was headed towards Nairobi and the other towards Meru,” Ng'eno said.

Others at the scene noted that the van appeared to have suffered a brake failure as it descended into Nithi Valley.