At least 17 people, predominantly Catholic pilgrims, were killed in a multi-vehicle collision on a highway leading to Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa early Saturday, authorities said. The crash occurred shortly after midnight in the Salama area, approximately 90 kilometers southeast of Nairobi.

According to police, the accident was triggered when a truck driver attempted to overtake another truck but failed, resulting in a collision involving several vehicles, including a 14-seater minibus transporting the pilgrims. The van’s driver and 16 passengers, mostly women, died at the scene.

The pilgrims were en route to a prayer site in Nakuru County, located west of the capital, Nairobi. Martin Kivuva, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating that he and the church community were grieved by the loss.

Kenyan President William Ruto extended condolences to the victims’ families, friends, and the larger Catholic congregation affected by the incident. He acknowledged the profound pain caused by the crash.

Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced it had initiated an investigation, dispatching officials to the site to determine the full circumstances that led to the collision. The NTSA also highlighted that the location is known as a “black spot” with a history of accidents, adding that recommendations have previously been made to improve safety along this section of the highway.

Authorities have not released further details about the drivers involved or other potential contributing factors, and the investigation remains ongoing.