Nine dead in matatu collision
Nine people died and four others sustained serious injuries on Sunday when a matatu collided with a truck near Kipkaren River Shopping Centre on the Eldoret-Malaba highway.
Police said the matatu driver was speeding at the time, claims denied by a witness who alleged that the matatu was fleeing a team of traffic police officers.
The driver and his conductor are among those who died on the spot in the mid-morning accident at the blackspot. Others who died were two men, two women and a young girl. The matatu had 12 passengers.
Western region traffic police boss, Mr Evans Getembe, said the matatu was heading to Eldoret from Kakamega while the lorry was heading to Bungoma.
LOST CONTROL
“The matatu driver hit a bump and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle bounced and collided with the lorry. The matatu driver was speeding and thus the grisly incident,” said the police officer.
But a witness differed with the police account, claiming that the matatu driver was fleeing from officers who were pursuing him in a red car.
“The matatu driver was speeding while being trailed by the police and the reason for the careless overtaking was to evade the officers,” said the witness, who asked not to be named.
The injured were taken to Webuye District Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, while the bodies of the dead were taken to the MTRH mortuary.