Six killed as road carnage toll continues to rise

Six people died in separate accidents on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway on Tuesday.

In the first accident, five people died on the spot when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed a trailer at Kiu near Salama in Makueni County.

Confirming the 5.30am incident, area police boss Joshua ole Leina said seven other passengers sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Makindu District Hospital.

Mr Leina said the driver of the matatu that was heading to Nairobi from Mombasa might have been speeding when he hit the trailer from behind.

Among the dead were the driver of the matatu and four male passengers.

In the second incident, one person died on the spot at Endumoto Bridge, five kilometres from Emali town.

Mr Leina said the driver lost control of the vehicle, which was heading to Nairobi from Mtito Andei.

The vehicle veered off the road before crashing into the river bed.

Thirteen passengers were slightly injured and were treated at Makindu hospital.

The vehicles were towed to Sultan Hamud police station while the bodies were taken to the hospital mortuary.