NAKURU, Kenya – At least six people were killed and five others injured following a fatal road accident at the Nyanja area along the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County, on Friday night.
The crash occurred at around 8.30pm and involved a Toyota Hiace matatu and a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer travelling in opposite directions.
Police said the matatu, which was carrying 11 passengers, was heading from Nakuru towards Eldoret when the trailer reportedly lost control while ascending the Nyanja slope.
The trailer is said to have veered into the opposite lane, resulting in a head-on collision with the oncoming matatu.
Five men, including the matatu driver, died on the spot. Their identities had not been established by the time of publication.
Six passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to Londiani Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Police said two men and one woman were admitted in critical condition after they were found unconscious at the scene.
The trailer driver, aged 49, sustained minor injuries.
Kuresoi North Sub-County Police Commander John Kimutai confirmed the incident, saying preliminary findings indicated the trailer swerved while climbing the slope.
“The accident happened at about 8.30pm. A trailer ascending the Nyanja slope lost control, crossed into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a matatu, killing five people instantly,” Kimutai said.
Police later confirmed that a sixth victim succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment in hospital.
Officers processed the scene and launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash as traffic police worked to clear the wreckage and restore normal flow along the busy highway.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to the mortuary pending identification and post-mortem examinations.
The latest crash pushed to at least 16 the number of people killed in separate road accidents across the country on Friday night alone, according to police records.