Three people died on the spot on Monday night while three other sustained serious injuries after a tractor ferrying sugarcane plunged into the river at Chimoi bridge along Eldoret-Webuye highway in Matete Sub County.
Confirming the incident Lwandeti location chief Thomas Luvonga said the accident occurred after the tractor was hit by a speeding truck pushing it in the river in the 8:10pm incident.
He said the tractor which was fully loaded with sugarcane was on its way from Matete heading to a West Kenya Sugar company weighbridge at Magut but on reaching Chimoi bridge, unknown trailer overtook the tractor and in the process, hit the front right tyre of the tractor pushing it to the edge of the bridge where it broke the guard ridges before it plunged into the river.
Luvonga said the driver identified as Wilson Andanje and two cane loaders died on the spot while three other cane loaders escaped with serious injuries before they were rescued and rushed to Webuye County hospital.
The rescue team had difficult times in the efforts to save the victims after they were completely covered by the canes inside the river.
Police have launched a search for the runaway truck that caused the accident.
The three bodies were removed from the scene and taken to Webuye mortuary in the neighoring Bungoma County.