Grief overwhelmed families at Londiani Sub-County Hospital mortuary as relatives gathered to identify the bodies of loved ones killed in a devastating road accident along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway. The Friday night, July 3 tragedy claimed seven lives and left five others nursing injuries.
The fatal crash occurred at Kamara in the Mau Summit area at around 8:30 pm. According to Kuresoi North Sub-County Police Commander John Kimutai, a Nakuru-bound truck reportedly lost control, veered into the opposite lane, and crashed head-on into an oncoming matatu.
The accident involved a Toyota Hiace shuttle belonging to Eldoret Crossroads. The vehicle was carrying 11 passengers travelling from Nakuru to Eldoret when the collision occurred. The impact left the shuttle extensively damaged, trapping several occupants inside the wreckage.
Emergency responders and members of the public rushed to the scene to rescue survivors before they were taken to nearby hospitals. Three passengers sustained serious injuries and were admitted to Londiani Sub-County Hospital, while the truck driver escaped with minor injuries, police confirmed.
At the mortuary, emotional scenes unfolded as devastated relatives struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss. Families waited anxiously to identify the bodies before making arrangements to transport their loved ones home for burial.
Among those who perished was Susan Odanga Apiyo, an Early Childhood Development teacher at Lions Academy. She had been travelling to Eldoret to visit family members, unaware that the journey would become her last.
Her brother, Stephen Odanga, recalled their final conversation only hours before the fatal accident. He said Susan had called him at around 6 pm seeking help with a faulty electricity meter at her home, a routine request that has now become a painful memory.
Relatives described the tragedy as heartbreaking, saying many victims had left home expecting to reunite with family or attend personal engagements. Instead, their loved ones received devastating news that forever changed their lives.
The crash has once again raised concerns over road safety along the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway, particularly around the Mau Summit stretch, which has witnessed numerous fatal accidents over the years due to speeding, dangerous overtaking and loss of vehicle control.
Police have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision as authorities continue urging motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic rules and ensure vehicles are roadworthy to help reduce the growing number of fatal crashes on Kenya’s highways.