At least 11 people were killed in a grisly road accident involving three vehicles in northwestern Kenya on New Year's Eve, police said on Tuesday.

Deputy Traffic Police Commandant Samuel Kimaru said the accident occurred after a speeding 14-seater public service vehicle heading to Nairobi from Busia in western Kenya rammed into a trailer also heading to the Kenyan capital.

"The 11 people who lost their lives were in the matatu which was heading to Nairobi. The accident took place at Salgaar, a black spot area when the matatu which was speeding hit a trailer which was being driven at a slow pace. The matatu then lost control and hit a bus head on," Kimaru told Xinhua by telephone on Tuesday.

"We have lost many lives in Salgaar in the recent past despite our appeals to drivers to be more careful. We have started the New Year on a bad note but we hope our campaign to bring sanity on our roads will be successful this year," he added.

Kimaru said the deceased including 10 passengers and a driver were in the 14-seater matatu, while the driver of the bus and a passenger were slightly injured and were out of danger.

Kimaru called on the drivers to take safety measures, especially when travelling at night. Endi

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