8 dead as parcel truck rams Tuk-Tuk in Kirinyaga

Residents, including Bishop Carson and John Muriuki, said a tuk-tuk was hit head-on by a speeding parcel truck.

Mwea East Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal confirmed the incident, saying the eight victims died at the scene.

Okal said the parcel truck, which was travelling from Mwea towards Embu, collided with the tuk-tuk, which was headed towards Ngurubani.

The tuk-tuk was carrying farm workers travelling from Kimbimbi to the Mwea Irrigation Research area to plant rice.

Six of those who died were in the tuk-tuk, while two were pedestrians who were hit along the roadside.

The driver of the parcel truck sustained minor injuries and was arrested.

Two of the injured victims were admitted to Kimbimbi Hospital, while another, who sustained serious injuries, was taken to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital.

The bodies of the deceased were moved to Kerugoya Mortuary.

Residents claimed the truck driver was trying to avoid potholes on the highway when he lost control of the vehicle.