The death toll from today’s road crash involving a fuel tanker and a fourteen seater matatu at the Eveready Roundabout in Nakuru has risen to seven after two more people succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.
At first, five people perished on the spot while scores sustained soft and deep tissue injuries.
They were rushed to the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital for emergency treatment while the deceased were moved to the Nakuru County Hospital Mortuary.
The accident involved a 14-seater matatu and a long-distance trailer and happened at about 7 am today.
The matatu is said to have stopped at an undesignated area prompting an oncoming trailer to ram into it and drag it for a distance.
Nakuru West Sub County Police commander Francis Wahome said they are investigating the incident.
“Five passengers lost their lives on the spot through a tragic fatal road traffic accident that occurred at Eveready Roundabout along Eldoret -Nakuru Highway.” The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) posted on X.
Police were forced to fire teargas to disperse a rowdy mob at the scene in what interrupted normal traffic flow on the busy highway.
The Eveready roundabout, situated along the treacherous Ngata Bridge black spot stretch, has witnessed numerous accidents over time.
Official statistics show at least 3,500 people die in road accidents in Kenya annually.
Incidents of fatal road accidents have gone unabated despite calls for crackdown on major highways by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and by the Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS) Japhet Koome.
