SAD NEWS: 6 Confirmed Dead, Several Injured as Passenger Matatu Crashes Into a Lorry Today

Six people, among them a matatu driver and five women passengers, have lost their lives in a terrible crash involving three vehicles along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway in Uasin Gishu County.

The deadly collision happened at about midnight on Saturday in the Koriomat area, leaving several other travellers wounded.Police said the vehicles involved were a Mercedes-Benz Actros lorry, a Toyota Hiace matatu run by North Rift Sacco and a Toyota Succeed.

The lorry was headed from Nakuru towards Eldoret when its driver allegedly veered right while attempting to dodge another vehicle in front.

Instead, the lorry struck the Toyota Succeed before slamming into the North Rift Sacco matatu, which had 10 passengers on board.

The impact threw both the Matatu and the Toyota Succeed off the road and into a trench on the right-hand side.

Tragically, the matatu driver, named Shabaan Hassan Wanga, and five women passengers perished at the scene because of the severity of the crash.

The remaining passengers suffered injuries and were hurriedly taken to various hospitals within Uasin Gishu County for treatment. Police had not yet verified how many people were hurt or identified all the victims.The six bodies were moved to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where they await postmortem examinations.

Officers went to the scene and began investigations to determine what led to the fatal crash. The wrecks of the three vehicles were also due to be towed to Burnt Forest Police Station for examination.

The incident comes amid rising concern over road safety in Kenya, where accidents continue to take lives.

Excessive speed, reckless overtaking and drink driving remain leading causes of road crashes.

Poorly maintained vehicles, defective brakes, bald tyres and hazardous road conditions have also fuelled the increasing number of accidents.

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