Six people died while another sustained serious injury after the vehicles they were travelling collided head-on in Kericho county on Monday.

The accident occurred at Duka Moja along the busy Kericho-Nakuru highway, a few kilometres from Kericho town.

The 7.30pm incident happened when a Toyota Probox collided head-on with a lorry which was on the opposite side.

Preliminary reports indicated that it was raining heavily when the accident occurred.

The injured person was rushed to Kericho County Referral Hospital for treatment.

Those who died were in the Toyota Probox.

It took the police and members of the public more time to disengage the wrecked vehicles from the lorry to get to the mangled bodies.

The driver of the lorry was unhurt and it is alleged that he escaped after the accident.

The bodies, which were mutilated, were taken to the hospital mortuary for preservation.

The accident occurred a day after Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that the country is losing an average of 3,500 lives through road accidents annually.

Speaking in Narok county on Sunday, Murkomen said that concerted efforts need to be made by all Kenyans to stop the menace adding that the road users should be responsible while using the roads.