By Antynet Ford
Seven people have died as an aftermath of a road accident in Nyalunya on the Katito-Kendu Bay road in Kisumu County.
The death toll rose to seven after one person succumbed at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu on Thursday.
The death was confirmed by the hospital’s chief executive officer Dr Richard Lesiyampe.
He said one person out of the eight who were rushed to the hospital was already dead.
The CEO said six survivors, including two minors, are still admitted at the facility in stable condition.
On Wednesday, five people died on the spot after a tipper lorry ferrying sand had a tyre burst.
The driver, who also died on the spot, then lost control of the vehicle and collided head-on with the Homa Bay bound matatu killing five the five on the spot.
The over-speeding matatu has been blamed for the accident which killed the seven.
Nyakach sub-county police commander John Losia said a preliminary investigation into the accident pointed to speeding, leading to the accident which could have been avoided.
“If the driver was not overspending he could have navigated and avoided the head-on collision with the lorry which had a tyre burst before it lost control.” He said.
As of February 14, road accidents across the country had claimed 563 lives since the year 2024 started.
These deaths, according to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority, occurred between January 1 to February 11, 2024.
The statistics are an increase compared to deaths recorded during the same period in 2023 which stood at 537.
Pedestrians lead in fatalities with 216, compared with 163 recorded last year.