Five people dead, 23 injured after matatu rams into tractor in Bomet

Police officers at the scene of the crash in Mugango, Bomet County. [Gilbert Kimutai, Standard]

Five people have died in a grisly road crash involving a 14-seater matatu and a tractor along the Silibwet-Olenguruone road in Bomet County.

Police say 23 passengers were rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Among the dead is the matatu driver who is said to have been speeding moments before the crash.

The driver of the matatu, which was headed to Bomet from Olenguruone, is said to have lost control and rammed into a tractor that was travelling in the opposite direction.

Eyewitnesses said the driver was spotted dangerously swerving and switching lanes before ramming into the tractor.

Mugango location acting chief, Richard Cheruiyot, said 21 passengers who were entangled in the wreckage were rescued by good Samaritans and rushed to the hospital.

Cheruiyot said two people were pulled out of the tractor and also sustained serious injuries.

“We took a total of 23 people to Tenwek Hospital. All were in the matatu except the two,” said Cheruiyot. 

He decried how the matatu was overloaded saying it was ferrying 27 people and eight 90kg bags of maize.

“The vehicle was overloaded. From the number of passengers injured, and those who lost their lives, the vehicle was carrying double its capacity,” said Cheruiyot.