At least 5 people killed in Gilgil-Naivasha highway road accident

The deceased included two men, a woman, a boy and a girl.

In Summary
  • Police said at least 19 others were injured in the accident which happened in the Kigio area involving three matatus at about 8pm.
  • The injured were rushed to hospital with multiple injuries.
ACCIDENT
ACCIDENT

At least five people were Thursday night killed in an accident on the Gilgil-Naivasha road.

Police said at least 19 others were injured in the accident which happened in the Kigio area involving three matatus at about 8pm.

The injured were rushed to hospital with multiple injuries.

The deceased included two men, a woman, a boy and a girl.

There are fears the death toll may increase, police said citing the impact of the crash.

According to police and witnesses, the incident involved a matatu belonging to Narok Line Services, a matatu belonging to Mau Narok Sacco and another belonging to Ennus Matatu Sacco.

Police said one of the vehicles involved in the accident was towing another from Naivasha towards Gilgil before it happened.

An oncoming matatu overtook a fleet of vehicles and failed to return to its lane in time, witnesses and survivors told police. 

The driver lost control of the vehicle and hit another one on the side as he tried to rejoin his lane before rolling several times hence the deaths.

The injured are undergoing treatment at Naivasha Sub County Hospital.

The bodies were taken to the Gilgil Sub County Hospital mortuary.

This is the latest such fatal accident on the highways which has claimed many lives and left hundreds of others with devastating injuries.

Up to 4,000 people are killed annually in separate accidents.

There is a campaign to address the menace.

Many others are left with injuries in the incidents that hurt families.

The National Transport and Safety Authority says the leading causes of fatal crashes included hit-and-runs, tyre bursts, and vehicles and motorcycles losing control.

Also overtaking improperly and failing to keep the proper lane resulting in head-on collisions are mentioned as causes.

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