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NAIROBI (Reuters) – At least 48 people were killed when a truck appeared to lose control and crash into other vehicles and pedestrians at a busy intersection in western Kenya on Friday night, police said.
“So far, we can confirm the killing of 48 and we believe that one or two are still trapped under the truck,” said local police chief Jeffrey. Mayek Agence France-Presse after the accident on the highway between my town Kericho and Nakuru.
He said another 30 people were seriously injured and taken to different hospitals, warning that the death toll could rise.
“We suspect that a truck driving towards Kericho lost control and hit matatos (local minibuses) that were packed into a bus stop, and those matatos ran over and injured passengers and pedestrians who were standing next to the bus stop,” Mike said.
So far his facility has received 45 bodies while more victims have been transferred to other hospitals and “rescue operations are still on,” said Collins Kipkosh, a senior physician at Kericho County Hospital.
Pictures published by local television stations showed the wreckage of several vehicles in an area known as London Crossroads.
Local media reports said heavy rains were hampering rescue operations.
“The truck was going at a high speed and was pulling off,” said one of the witnesses, Maureen Jepkoch. “I tried to avoid several cars just before it entered the market.”.
“I’ve heard people say it’s like losing the brakes. But I don’t know.
It happened in a flash
“All I can say is I’m lucky to be alive because I saw what happened and I’m alive because I ran, and I’m very lucky,” she added.
“I saw a very bad scene, dead bodies and blood everywhere. Lots of people died.”
Another witness, Joel Rotich, said: “The incident happened in the blink of an eye and many of them did not have time to flee.
“There was a lot of confusion because people were screaming everywhere and everyone was running after the accident,” he added.
“It took a while for people to take heart and start helping the injured.”
The number of road fatalities in Kenya has risen in recent years, according to government statistics.
“My heart is broken,” Kericho Governor Eric Mutai wrote on Facebook, calling it “a dark moment for the people of Kericho.”
“My heart goes out to the families who have just lost loved ones,” he said, adding that ambulances were mobilized and all health facilities on alert.
“So far, we can confirm the killing of 48 and we believe that one or two are still trapped under the truck,” said local police chief Jeffrey. Mayek Agence France-Presse after the accident on the highway between my town Kericho and Nakuru.
He said another 30 people were seriously injured and taken to different hospitals, warning that the death toll could rise.
“We suspect that a truck driving towards Kericho lost control and hit matatos (local minibuses) that were packed into a bus stop, and those matatos ran over and injured passengers and pedestrians who were standing next to the bus stop,” Mike said.
So far his facility has received 45 bodies while more victims have been transferred to other hospitals and “rescue operations are still on,” said Collins Kipkosh, a senior physician at Kericho County Hospital.
Pictures published by local television stations showed the wreckage of several vehicles in an area known as London Crossroads.
Local media reports said heavy rains were hampering rescue operations.
“The truck was going at a high speed and was pulling off,” said one of the witnesses, Maureen Jepkoch. “I tried to avoid several cars just before it entered the market.”.
“I’ve heard people say it’s like losing the brakes. But I don’t know.
It happened in a flash
“All I can say is I’m lucky to be alive because I saw what happened and I’m alive because I ran, and I’m very lucky,” she added.
“I saw a very bad scene, dead bodies and blood everywhere. Lots of people died.”
Another witness, Joel Rotich, said: “The incident happened in the blink of an eye and many of them did not have time to flee.
“There was a lot of confusion because people were screaming everywhere and everyone was running after the accident,” he added.
“It took a while for people to take heart and start helping the injured.”
The number of road fatalities in Kenya has risen in recent years, according to government statistics.
“My heart is broken,” Kericho Governor Eric Mutai wrote on Facebook, calling it “a dark moment for the people of Kericho.”
“My heart goes out to the families who have just lost loved ones,” he said, adding that ambulances were mobilized and all health facilities on alert.
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