Three people died after a lorry plunged into the Kiptetan river in Kericho county on Tuesday, December 20.
According to the police, the lorry transporting maize lost control after the engine failed and reversed into the river.
"As the lorry was ascending the hills, unfortunately the engine failed. Due to engine failure, the vehicle reversed back and plunged into the river," the police stated
Out of the four people involved in the accident, the driver survived after residents rescued him from the debris.
According to the residents, the surviving driver informed them that the other three were trapped inside the vehicle.
Efforts to save the passengers were futile. However, their bodies were retrieved and taken to Kericho County Referral Hospital awaiting a post-mortem.
In another incident on Tuesday, December 20, traders in Nakuru's Sachangwan shopping centre incurred losses after a lorry rammed into three of their stores.
A week earlier, on Tuesday, December 13, ten people were killed when a trailer collided with two passenger service vehicles (PSVs) along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway.
Eight people were killed on the spot, while ten others were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Two more died while undergoing treatment.
On Tuesday, December 20, the National Safety and Transport Authority (NTSA) announced that fatalities between January to December 13, 2022, increased to 4,432 from 4,271 in the same period in 2021.
Motorbike accidents were the highest, followed by private cars, PSVs, and commercial vehicles.
Fatality rates were also higher in highly urbanized counties, largely attributed to the improvement of infrastructure and an increase in population, which has increased interaction between vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and vehicles on the road.
"Most fatal road traffic crashes occurred between 5.00 pm and 9.00 pm, with the peak last week being 5.00 p.m. This is largely attributed to reduced enforcement during these times, high volumes of traffic and pedestrians (rush hour),
"Other causes were pedestrians crossing at non-designated or unsafe areas and getting easily knocked down or ran over by speeding vehicles, driver fatigue and Drink driving," NTSA stated.
