Four schoolchildren were yesterday killed when a speeding car veered off the road and hit them at Burnt Forest on the Eldoret-Nakuru road.

The four children died at the scene of the accident while one was rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. A salon car heading to Eldoret veered off the road to avoid ramming into another vehicle and hit the Kapkoi Primary School pupils who were waiting to cross the road during lunch hour.

Police from Burnt Forest police station rushed to the scene but it was too late for them to save the children. "Its unfortunate that this accident had to happen. We have arrested the driver because he was speeding at such a busy market," said Wareng DC Seif Matata.The driver and his passenger escaped unhurt.

The police rescued the driver from furious wananchi who wanted to lynch him. Teachers, parents and pupils wept at the scene of the accident. Matata asked drivers to be careful to reduce the high number of accidents on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway.

He said the government had done a lot of public awareness for public service vehicle operators and drivers on the need to be careful on the roads.

"We have asked them to obey the new traffic rules and avoid speeding among other illegalities on the roads," said Matata. Residents condemned the accident which happened a few hours after schools reopened for the first term this year.