Police officers manning a roadblock along the Kakamega-Kisumu highway scampered for safety after area residents charged towards them.
The mob accused the officers of setting an illegal roadblock at the highway that caused a multiple-car crash.
Vihiga County Commander Benjamin Ong’ombe, on Tuesday, November 1, confirmed that a trailer lost control and rammed into vehicles pulled over by the traffic cops.
"Yes it is true there is an accident involving many vehicles. I have asked the area OCPD and the police on the ground to report to the scene," he stated.
He further noted that the driver of the the 18-wheeler lost control of the vehicle after it developed brake failure.
In the ensuing melee, the irate residents blocked a Land Cruiser dispatched from a nearby police station from accessing the accident scene.
Consequently, a second team from police stations in Vihiga, Mbale and Gambogi armed with anti-riot gear were countered.
The police, however, managed to de-escalate the situation.
A rescue team, including officers and medics, arrived at the scene to rescue the survivors.
"We are yet to establish the number of casualties and whether there are any deaths," Ong'ombe affirmed.
Survivors were ferried to the Vihiga County Referral Hospital. No casualties were reported at the time of publishing.
In October 2022, the National Police Service (NPS) announced a nationwide crackdown on all roads, targeting vehicles violating the Traffic Act.
Vehicles using unlawfully equipped lamps, modified illuminating lights, red lights, opaque rear lights, flashing lights, flickering lights, LED illuminating bars and unauthorized red and blue lights were impounded.
