Three people have died while 13 others sustained injuries following a collision involving a Toyota Vitz and a passenger matatu along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
The crash occurred at around 1:40 a.m. on Friday near Naivas as the two vehicles were travelling towards Mombasa from Nairobi.
According to a police report, the Toyota Vitz, registration KDW 815V, was being driven by Bernard Odhiambo when it crashed into the rear of a Toyota Hiace matatu, registration KDU 943U, operated by Makata Sacco.
The matatu was driven by David Masaku Musyoka and was carrying 16 passengers at the time of the accident.
Police preliminary findings indicate that the Vitz driver may have failed to keep a safe distance from the matatu, resulting in the rear-end collision.
The impact caused both vehicles to lose control before leaving the highway and landing in a ditch on the left side of the road.
Three passengers died at the scene from injuries sustained during the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Joash Olima Geoffrey, who suffered chest injuries, 51-year-old Geoffrey Kilonzo Nguli, who sustained head injuries, and approximately 50-year-old Thomas Ochola Okongo, who also suffered serious head injuries.
The matatu driver, Musyoka, sustained head injuries and was among those taken for medical attention.
Twelve other passengers were injured and transported to Lifecare Hospital, where they received treatment for various injuries.
The victims suffered injuries affecting different parts of the body, including the head, neck, chest, arms and legs. Martin Mutua reportedly lost two front teeth and sustained an injury to his right leg, while Lucy Nancy Obunga complained of chest pain in addition to head injuries.
Police officers visited the scene shortly after the accident and launched investigations to establish the circumstances that led to the collision.
Both vehicles were extensively damaged in the crash and were towed to a police station yard, where they remain in custody pending inspection.
The bodies of the three deceased passengers were transported to the Shalom Community Hospital mortuary, where they are being preserved awaiting postmortem examinations.
