A tragic road accident in the Nyanja area along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway claimed the lives of at least six individuals and left five others injured on Friday night.
The incident unfolded around 8:30 PM, involving a Toyota Hiace matatu and a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer. Authorities reported that the matatu, carrying 11 passengers and heading from Nakuru to Eldoret, was struck head-on when the trailer, traveling in the opposite direction, lost control while ascending the Nyanja slope.
According to police, the trailer veered into the opposite lane, resulting in a collision with the oncoming matatu. Five men, including the driver of the matatu, tragically lost their lives at the scene. Their identities remain undisclosed as of the latest update.
Six passengers sustained injuries and received immediate medical attention at Londiani Sub-County Hospital. Among them, two men and one woman were admitted in critical condition after being found unconscious at the crash site. The 49-year-old trailer driver suffered only minor injuries.
Kuresoi North Sub-County Police Commander John Kimutai confirmed the details of the incident. “The accident occurred at around 8:30 PM. A matatu was heading towards Nakuru from Eldoret when a trailer ascending the Nyanja slope swerved to the right and collided head-on with the matatu, fatally injuring five people on the spot,” Kimutai explained.
Sadly, a sixth victim succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment in the hospital. Officers promptly processed the scene and initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, while also working diligently to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow along the highway.
The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the mortuary, where they will undergo identification and post-mortem examinations. This unfortunate accident has contributed to a total of 16 fatalities from separate incidents across the country on Friday night alone.
