Lane indiscipline and dangerous overtaking have been identified as the cause of Tuesday's dawn accident at the Twin Bridge area along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway that claimed 15 lives.
In a statement on Tuesday, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said the driver of the Classic Kings bus which caused the accident is at large.
"Preliminary crash analysis indicates that the incident is attributed to lane indiscipline and dangerous overtaking on the part of the bus driver leading to a head-on collision with the Northways Sacco matatu," NTSA director general George Njao said.
"The driver of the bus is currently at large and all efforts are ongoing to apprehend him. An investigation has commenced to establish the full circumstances leading to this crash to inform prosecution and recommendations," he added.
Police confirmed that all occupants of the matatu lost their lives while 38 people escaped unhurt following the crash.
Among the dead were eight adults and seven children including five girls.
The injured are still receiving treatment in hospital.
The accident brought to over 20 the number of people that have perished in separate road accidents within two days.
On Monday, two people died on the spot while other passengers sustained injuries following a head-on collision involving a Toyota Matatu and an Isuzu lorry in the Kisaju area along Isinya/Kitengela road.
The Twin Bridge accident which occurred at around 2:45am came just hours after NTSA Road Safety Manager Samuel Musumba asked motorists to exercise caution on roads as schools reopen for the First term.
“We wish to caution all drivers to be very careful during this period. We ask drivers to avoid speeding to make more trips, it’s dangerous," he said, noting that there's a tendency for drivers to speed to make more trips as travel intensifies.
Njao reiterated the sentiments and asked all motorists to adhere to traffic rules to save lives.
"To this end, we urge all motorists to be extra cautious while on the road especially now as children go back to school. The ongoing multiagency operation will be intensified and necessary action will be taken against those flouting traffic rules," he said.
