Seven die, five injured after lorry hits matatu along Nakuru-Eldoret highway

Seven people died on the spot Sunday night in an accident involving a truck and a 14-seater matatu on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver lost control of the truck and it rammed into the Eldoret-bound North Rift Shuttle matatu that was headed in the opposite direction at Ngata Bridge on the busy highway.

Both drivers were among those who perished in the 10:30pm accident.

The matatu had 11 passengers on board while the truck that was headed to Nakuru Town had two people on board.

The accident occurred after the lorry swerved off the road as its driver tried to avoid hitting a fuel tanker from behind and in the process rammed into the matatu from the right side.

A witness, Mr Fredrick Cherogony, whose house is next to the accident scene, said he was heading home with his friends when he saw the speeding lorry almost hit a trailer heading in the same direction.

Five people in the matatu sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Nakuru Level Five Hospital for treatment while the bodies of those who perished were moved to Nakuru County hospital mortuary.

The area base commander could not be reached for comment.

The accident occurred barely 10 hours after a 34-seater minibus rammed into a car at Greensteds, on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, killing two people.

Witnesses said the private car's driver, who also died on the spot, was allegedly attempting to overtake when the car was hit on its side by the bus, rolling several times.

The survivors were rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in Gilgil and the bodies were taken to Umash Funeral Home, next to the scene of the accident.