Six people lost their lives, and several others sustained critical injuries following a tragic road accident along the Bomet-Narok Highway on Saturday evening, December 14.
The accident occurred at Olonin Bridge and involved a secondary school bus from Mesabisabi Mixed High School and a Nissan matatu. According to reports, the bus, ferrying SDA women returning from a seminar, attempted a risky overtaking maneuver before colliding head-on with the matatu traveling in the opposite direction.
Three occupants of the matatu died instantly, while three others, including two women and a young girl, succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at Ololulung’a Sub-County Hospital.
Police confirmed that the bus driver fled the scene, prompting an immediate manhunt. Both vehicles were towed to Narok South Sub-County Police headquarters for inspection.
The crash follows another accident earlier the same day in the Tegero area of the same highway, where a woman died and three others escaped with minor injuries.
The Bomet-Narok Highway has become notorious for accidents in recent months. On June 29, nine people died in Ratili when a matatu burst a tyre, causing it to roll several times.
Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) paints a grim picture, with at least 3,056 lives lost in road accidents between January 1 and August 27, 2024. The report attributes most fatalities to human error, with pedestrians being the most affected.
Authorities have called for stricter road safety measures to curb the rising fatalities on the country’s highways.