One person died on the spot while four sustained injuries following a fatal accident that involved a canter lorry and a Nissan matatu at Matunda market along Kitale–Eldoret road in Likuyani Sub County on Tuesday afternoon.
Confirming the incident, Likuyani OCPD Meshack Kiptum said the accident occurred after the lorry driver who was over speeding lost control and rammed into a static matatu which had stopped to pick passengers at Matunda stage.
Kiptum said the Matatu conductor died on the spot while the driver and passengers who included two adults and one child sustained injuries and were rushed to Matunda Sub County hospital.
The OCPD said the preliminary investigation has indicated that the accident resulted from drunk driving after it was established that the lorry driver was driving while drunk.
The driver who escaped without injuries was arrested and locked at Matunda police station as the investigation continues before being arraigned in court.
Kiptum has appealed to all drivers to strictly adhere to the traffic rules and be mindful of other road users to avoid unnecessary accidents. He also warned against driving while drunk saying the incident would have been avoided had the lorry driver been sober.
The lorry was travelling from Kitale towards Eldoret while the Matatu was on its way from Eldoret to Kitale when the accident occurred at about 3 pm.