Six people died while scores of others sustained injuries when the driver of  a vehicle ferrying miraa harversters lost control at Athiru Gaiti Market in Igembe.

Preliminary investigations  into the incident indicate driver of  the ill-fated Landrover lost control of the vehicle after brakes failed, before it veered off the road,  plunged into a ditch and  rolled several times.

Scores of other  passengers on board escaped with  serious injuries.

Eyewitnesses told KNA that The landrover KAQ 194W was ferrying about 33 miraa harvesters from Giteretu to Athiru Gaiti where it veered off the road after hitting a stone, before it overturned.

Villagers said the vehicle rolled several times killing one passengers on the spot while five others   rescued from the wreckage later succumbed to their injuries while being taken to Nyambene Level 4 hospital.

According to eye witness the KAQ 194W Landrover was overloaded when the tragic incident with some of the passengers sustaining serious injuries after falling off the vehicle and  landing on the rocky murram road.

Several casualties who sustained minor injuries were however treated and discharged while others who were in critical condition were referred to Meru Level Five Hospital.

All male casualties critically injured were taken to Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital for further treatment and admission since the Nyambene  facility had no ward for the male gender.

Members of the public and relatives of the accident victims expressed their dissatisfaction with the county government for not constructing a male ward in Nyambene Hospital forcing relatives and friends  of the injured male to take them  to Meru Level Five Hospital.