At least 5 people have been confirmed dead after a Homa Bay-bound matatu collided with a lorry at Katito in Nyakach, Kisumu.
Nyakach OCPD John Losia said the accident occurred after the lorry ferrying sand had a tyre burst.
The driver then lost control of it before it collided head-on with the matatu heading to Homa Bay.
The accident occurred around 5 pm Wednesday.
Losia said eight other people sustained injuries. They were rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral to the hospital.
"Of the eight injured, one was in a very critical condition. Three of them were male while five were female. The driver of both the lorry and the 14-seater matatu died on the spot," Nyakach OCPD John Losia said.
Losia said the matatu had 12 passengers onboard at the time of the accident.
Among those who were critically injured is a minor aged two months.
Traffic Police from Pap Onditi Police Station have launched investigations into the tragic accident.
The bodies of the seven who died were taken to the Pap Onditi subcounty hospital morgue in Nyakach subcounty.
Regional Traffic Commander Allan Mwangi has appealed to motorists to exercise extra caution on the road.
As of February 14, road accidents across the country had claimed 563 lives since the year 2024 started.
These deaths, according to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority, occurred between January 1 to February 11, 2024
The statistics are an increase compared to deaths recorded during the same period in 2023 which stood at 537.
Pedestrians lead in fatalities with 216, compared with 163 recorded last year.
Following closely are passengers who recorded 109 deaths which is 11 more compared to the 98 recorded in 2023.
Motorcyclists recorded 140 deaths representing a decrease when compared to 151 recorded in 2023.
Pillion passengers recorded 54 deaths compared to 68 witnessed last year.
35 drivers have lost their lives in road accidents. This is a decrease compared to 49 in the same period last year.
So far this year, only nine pedal cyclists have died from an accident within the period under review compared to eight last year.
Last year, at least 22,885 people were involved in road accidents.
NTSA said 4,324 died while the rest were left mostly with life-changing injuries.
At least 10,769 people were seriously injured and 7,792 were slightly injured.
This was an increase of 1,127 compared to 2022 where 21,758 people were involved in road crashes and 4,690 died, 9,933 got seriously injured and 7,135 were slightly injured.
