Four people lost their lives and another one seriously injured after two vehicles crashed along the Gilgil-Olkalou Road on Monday.
The accident happened after a car headed towards Gilgil and a lorry headed in the opposite direction collided head-on at Mumbi in Nyandarua County.
Three passengers in the car died on the spot while the fourth one was declared dead upon arrival at the JM Memorial Hospital.
The injured person is fighting for his life at the same hospital.
According to a witness, the car crashed into the lorry after its driver lost control while attempting to avoid a pothole.
She added that some rescuers proceeded to steal belongings of the dead, including their phones and money.
“The driver of the car was avoiding a pothole when he hit the truck. But I was discouraged to witness the rescuers steal from the victims. They stole the victims’ wallets, mobile phones and other personal documents,” said Ms Margaret Njeri.
The same was confirmed at the hospital where staff could not identify the victims owing to missing identification documents.
"We are unable to get their names or where they come from. They do not have any identification documents with them. One of the dead victims is a young girl who died on the spot. The fifth victim is in critical condition but our doctors are working hard to stabilise him before referral,” said the hospital administrator Mary Njuguna.
Area governor Francis Kimemia sent his condolences, blaming the accident on the pathetic state of the stretch, which has been marked as a black spot.