Five people lost their lives in a multi-vehicle accident involving an oil tanker along the Eldoret-Malaba highway.

Two passengers, who survived the accident with severe injuries, were hospitalized after the 4am collision on Sunday August 25, 2024 at Murugusi in Lugari, Kakamega County.

The collision involved an oil tanker, tractor carrying hardcore building materials and a probox.

The oil tanker was heading to Malaba border, while the probox was coming from Busia.

According to the police report, the oil tanker was travelling at a very high speed, leading to the accident.

During the incident, the oil tanker hit the tractor before ramming into the probox vehicle which was 15 meters away.

Five passengers in the probox vehicle died on the spot while two who survived suffered severe injuries.

The two are currently nursing injuries at the Eldoret Hospital.

Both the oil tanker and tractor drivers escaped without any injury.

Julius Meli, Lugari sub county police commander, stated that the tractor driver and the passengers managed to escape during the incident.

Meanwhile, the five bodies were moved to Webuye sub-county hospital mortuary for identification and post-mortem.

“We have arrested the driver of the oil tanker and we are pursuing the occupants of the tractor who are at large,” sai Meli.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) statistics indicate that about 3000 people die in road accidents every year, with most accidents occurring during weekends and public holidays.