A senior police officer lost his life after a major road accident involving nine vehicles at the Karai area on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway on Monday evening. The crash, which occurred at around 4:50 p.m. on monday, left several people injured and caused significant damage to the vehicles involved.

The deceased officer was Nyandarua County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), Senior Superintendent of Police John Rioba. He was among the motorists caught up in the collision and later succumbed to his injuries.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident began when a lorry travelling towards Nakuru reportedly lost control. The truck first collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser carrying two foreign nationals before veering into the opposite lane. The lorry then struck several other vehicles travelling in the direction of Nairobi, resulting in a chain-reaction crash involving a total of nine vehicles.

Rioba, who was driving an Isuzu D-Max, was taken to Naivasha Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Medical personnel later confirmed that he had died from injuries sustained in the accident.

During the rescue operation, a member of the public recovered the officer’s loaded Ceska pistol from the wreckage and handed it over to a police officer at the scene.

Among those injured was Uasin Gishu MCA Regina Chumba, who was admitted to hospital with chest injuries. The two occupants of the Toyota Land Cruiser escaped with minor injuries.

Police said all vehicles involved in the crash sustained extensive damage and were moved to Naivasha Police Station pending inspection and further investigations. Authorities have since launched a search for the lorry driver, who is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the accident.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.