Seventeen people, mostly pilgrims traveling to a religious site, died in a multi-vehicle collision on a highway near the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa early Saturday morning. The crash occurred in the Salama area shortly after midnight when a truck driver attempting to overtake another truck lost control, leading to a collision involving several vehicles, including a van carrying the pilgrims, local police reported.

According to authorities, the driver of the van and 16 passengers—predominantly women—were killed at the scene. The group was en route to a prayer site in Nakuru County, located west of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, said Martin Kivuva, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.

Emergency services responded to the site of the accident, but the severity of the crash left no survivors among those in the van. Police investigations are ongoing to determine the precise circumstances that led to the failed overtaking maneuver and subsequent collision. Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution on the road, especially during nighttime travel.

The incident is a stark reminder of road safety challenges in Kenya, where accidents involving long-distance travelers are frequent. Efforts to improve road infrastructure and driver awareness continue to be a priority for government agencies to prevent such tragedies.