Four killed as matatu, truck collide at black spot

Four people were killed and seven others injured following a road accident on the Eldoret–Webuye highway yesterday.

The accident involved a truck and a public service vehicle, matatu.

All those who died were being ferried in the matatu that had 11 passengers.

According to witnesses, three people died on the spot, and the driver later while undergoing treatment at Lumakanda Sub-county Hospital.

The matatu belonged to North Rift sacco. The 7pm accident occurred at Turbo Bridge, a black spot that has claimed many lives.

John Wafula, a witness, said the driver of the matatu that was headed to Webuye from Eldoret might have lost control.

The matatu collided with the truck that was being driven from the opposite direction.

"I noticed the speeding truck coming from the opposite direction. The driver of the matatu seemed to have lost control," said Mr Wafula.

Kakamega County Police Commander Bernard Muli said the injured were taken to various hospitals.

“Of the four people who died were a young woman and a man, who we were unable to identify in order to contact their kin," said Muli, adding: "They had no identification documents at the moment."

He asked relatives who suspect their kin might have been travelling on the road at the time of the accident to go to Chebaiywa hospital mortuary, where the bodies were taken.