At least seven people died and 15 others were injured in two separate road crashes on the busy Nyahururu- Rumuruti-Maralal road on Friday morning.
In the first crash, which occurred at Gatundia near Rumuruti town, four people including a schoolgirl died on the spot when the 14-seater matatu they were travelling in rolled several times.
Witnesses said the girl was walking home from school when the rolling vehicle landed on her.
Another victim died while she was being taken to hospital.
DOUBLE TRAGEDY
The vehicle was reportedly carrying passengers who were coming from a market and a group of men who were coming from Rumuruti area where they had gone to prepare a grave of a matatu driver who perished in another crash a week ago on the same route.
Two of the men were among those who died on the spot.
“The vehicle was headed to Nyahururu from Rumuruti and on reaching at the scene of the accident it veered off the road and landed in a ditch. Two men and a primary school kid died on the spot while a woman passenger died as she was rushed to hospital in Nyahururu,” said
Laikipia West police boss Jeffa Mweru said five people were taken to Nyahururu County Referral Hospital for treatment
Anna Andung, a survivor, said the driver was speeding before he hit a ditch and lost control of the vehicle.
In the second crash, which occurred near at Suguta area near Mugie ranch, two people died on the spot when the vehicle they were travelling in, hit a pothole and rolled several times.
Police said the pick-up vehicle belonging to a road constructing company was carrying nine passengers when the crash occurred.
The driver of the vehicle died on the spot while another person died while receiving treatment at the Nyahururu County Referral Hospital, Mr Mweru said.
