Details on Bomet crash that claimed two lives

Divers at the scene of the tragic Bomet crash./HANDOUT

Two people lost their lives and one sustained serious injuries after a lorry they were travelling in was involved in a road accident in Bomet County on Sunday morning.

The accident happened at around 4 a.m. at Kipsonoi Bridge near Soymet trading centre in Sotik Sub-County along the busy Bomet–Sotik road.

According to police, the lorry, which was heading towards Kisii, veered off the road after the driver lost control, rammed into a guardrail, and plunged into the swollen Kipsonoi River.

The victims, who were not employees of the lorry company, are said to have boarded the truck in Nairobi, with the driver offering them a lift to Kisii.

Tragically, their journey ended in disaster at the bridge, which has been marked as a black spot in previous accident reports.

Police officers and locals rushed to the scene shortly after the crash.

The bodies of the deceased were retrieved and moved to the Kapkatet Hospital mortuary in Kericho county for preservation while the injured survivor, whose condition was described as critical, was taken to Kaplong Mission hospital for treatment.

The driver of the lorry is among those injured.

Confirming the incident, Bomet traffic boss Daniel Ololngojine said investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the accident, but preliminary findings point to loss of control as a result of slippery roads and poor visibility caused by early morning mist.

The police boss urged motorists to exercise extra caution, especially during this rainy season, warning that fog and mist are increasingly reducing visibility along the stretch.

He also appealed to drivers to avoid over speeding and to ensure their vehicles are well maintained before embarking on long journeys.

At the same time, he cautioned local residents against vandalizing road signs along the Bomet–Sotik highway.

He noted that traffic signs play a critical role in guiding drivers and reducing accidents, but rampant theft and destruction of the signs has worsened risks on the road.