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At least 48 killed in road collision in western Kenya

More than 20 casualties were taken to local hospitals
More than 20 casualties were taken to local hospitals

At least 48 people were killed in a road collision in Londiani, western Kenya when a lorry carrying a shipping container veered off the road and collided with several vehicles, police and witnesses said.

Footage of the incident's aftermath carried by local broadcasters showed the wreckage of cars and motorbikes alongside damaged minibuses and trucks.

Regional police commander Tom Odera said the death toll stood at 48.

"I saw a speeding oncoming trailer. I swerved and escaped hitting him head-on," a driver said.

"The person who was behind me thought I wanted to buy something. He overtook me and that is when he was hit.

"The trailer went off the road and hit other vehicles.

"I saw about 20 bodies with my own eyes. There were other bodies that were under the vehicle," he said.

The Kenya Red Cross said the lorry hit more than six vehicles and ran over pedestrians.

More than 20 casualties were taken to local hospitals, the Red Cross said.

"The country mourns with the families who have lost loved ones in a horrific road accident in Londiani," Kenyan President William Ruto wrote in a tweet.

"It is distressing that some of the fatalities are young people with a promising future and business people who were on their daily chores," he added.

The collision is one of the deadliest on Kenya's roads in recent years.

Last year 34 people died in central Kenya when their bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a river valley.