Massacre as 15 killed, 11 injured after lorry rams into two vehicles in Sotik
The death toll from yesterday’s road carnage involving three vehicles, a lorry, matatu and a personal car at Cheptangulkei area on the Kaplong–Kericho Highway in Sotik sub-County, Bomet county yesterday afternoon has risen to 15.
Following the horrific accident, thirteen people died on the spot while eleven others sustained serious multiple injuries.
Bomet County traffic commander, Amos Namasaka, said the accident occurred after the vehicles; a lorry, a 14-seater matatu, and a personal car collided.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the private car was ferrying people from a celebration. Namasaka noted that loud music and reckless driving contributed to the crash, which occurred around 2:50 PM.
The Kenya Red Cross, which responded alongside the Bomet County Government, said five people with critical injuries were referred to Tenwek Hospital, while nine others were treated on-site and at nearby facilities.
Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok confirmed the fatalities, expressing his condolences and urging road users to exercise caution.
“The lorry was travelling from Kaplong and crashed into a saloon car and a matatu heading towards Kaplong,” said Namasaka.
He said the injured were admitted to Kaplong Mission Hospital and Kapkatet Hospital.
Following the accident, a team of rescuers from the Kenya Red Cross Society and area traffic police officers arrived at the scene and helped remove the victims from the wreckage.
Namasaka said the lorry pushed the two vehicles for more than 100 metres after the impact.
Police were unable to identify which bodies belonged to which vehicle and appealed for family members to assist in identification.
He said the accident could have been caused by carelessness, but noted that they were yet to establish the exact cause.
Gibson Kirui, who witnessed the accident, said he was walking home when he saw the lorry ram into the two vehicles.
Members of the public rushed to the scene and tried to rescue people, but most were trapped in the wreckage, and they had no equipment to cut through the mangled metal.
“I can’t remember what happened because it occurred very fast,” said Kirui.
In 2025, a National Transport and Safety Authority report indicated that road accidents remain a critical issue, with data revealing that at least 13 people are killed in road crashes daily.
The most vulnerable road users, according to the NTSA, include cyclists — who account for the highest number of casualties — followed by pedestrians, three-wheeler vehicles, and standard vehicles.
The bodies were moved to Kapkatet sub-County Hospital Mortuary, while the wreckage of the vehicles was towed to Sotik Police Station.
