Police in Athi River, Machakos county are investigating an incident where one person died on the spot and five others sustained serious injuries in Mombasa Road accident.

Athi River South Sub-County Police Commander Carolyne Jerop said the fatal road traffic accident incident occurred along the Nairobi - Mombasa highway in Maanzoni area, Athi River Sub-county on Monday. The deceased was a 42-year-old man.

Jerop said it was a single-vehicle crash that involved a Toyota HiAce Van.

"The motor vehicle that was moving towards the Mombasa general direction from Nairobi veered off the road after its right tire burst," Jerop said.

She addressed reporters at her office in Athi River Town on Tuesday.

The accident, according to Jerop, happened at about 5.00pm.

Jerop said the motor-vehicle rolled before it landed facing the Nairobi direction. The direction from where it was coming from.

"The man died on the spot due to serious injuries. Five other passengers of the motor vehicle were critically injured," she said.

The matter was reported to Kyumbi police station as a fatal road traffic accident incident report.

Traffic officers from Kyumbi police station responded to the scene, processed, documented and cleared it before traffic normalized along the stretch of the busy highway.

The victims were rushed to Machakos Level 5 hospital for medication.

Police removed the body to the same hospital's mortuary awaiting postmortem among other legal necessary procedures.  

The wreckage was towed to Kyumbi police station pending inspection.

Jerop cautioned motorists and other road users against flouting traffic rules and regulations thereby endangering own lives and others.

She urged drivers to be always alert and sober at all times while in the road to avoid unnecessary road carnages and deaths.

"If someone feels fatigue, he should park the motor-vehicle he is driving and rest. If fatigued, stop and rest to save lives," Jerop said.

Jerop cautioned against drunk driving warning that those found on the road while intoxicated wouldn't be spared by the police.

"Let's avoid use of alcohol. Alcohol is key in causing road carnages in the country. Don't drive while drunk. It's the order of the day. Rest and avoid alcohol," she said.

She advised those who have invested in long distance public service vehicles, trucks, and trailers to consider hiring more than one driver for each of the vehicles to reduce fatigue related accidents.

on drunk driving, the police boss said drivers of private cars were notorious.

She said most of the cars plying the route are driven by drivers under influence of alcohol. This she said was rampant on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

Jerop also urged passengers to report such drivers and motorists to police.

"Speak up to save lives. Insist that the drunk driver should stop at the nearby police station or locations where traffic police officers are spotted for you to make a report," she concluded.