One Dead, Three Injured in Mau Summit Road Crash

One person has died and three others have been injured in a road crash at Mau Summit along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway.

The crash occurred shortly after 8:00 am on Sunday, October 4, when a pick-up reportedly hit a private vehicle from behind before veering off the road and crashing into a lorry parked on the roadside. The impact badly damaged the vehicles and scattered goods from the pick-up across the carriageway. Images and footage from the scene showed the extent of the damage as emergency responders and motorists dealt with the aftermath.

Witnesses said the pick-up appeared to have been travelling at high speed before the crash. Some also alleged that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol. The claims had not been independently verified, and authorities had not issued a definitive account of what caused the collision.

The pick-up driver was reported to have died at the scene, while three other people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. Police and other authorities arrived at the scene as efforts were made to remove the wreckage and restore traffic flow. The crash caused heavy congestion, leaving motorists stranded along the highway.

Authorities are expected to release further information on the casualties and circumstances of the crash as investigations continue. Investigators will seek to establish whether speed, driver impairment, mechanical failure or other factors contributed to the collision.

The crash occurred two days after a deadly collision at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in which 17 people died. The multi-vehicle crash involved a lorry that reportedly lost control after experiencing brake failure before colliding with several vehicles, including a 14-seater matatu carrying pilgrims travelling to the Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County.

Following the Salama crash, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) renewed its warning to motorists about dangerous overtaking and poor lane discipline. NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa said the authority had deployed a crash investigation team to work with the National Police Service in establishing the circumstances of the collision.

Investigators are also examining the vehicles involved in the Salama crash to determine whether they met the required safety standards. NTSA has also increased its engagement with motorists across the country, including free training for drivers in the public service vehicle sector.