By Andrew Wasike and Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya 

Dozens of people were killed Tuesday when a speeding car crashed into oncoming vehicles on a major highway through western Kenya’s Great Rift valley.

Police said 32 people, including children, were killed in the 15-vehicle pile-up on the Nakuru-Eldoret road northwest of capital Nairobi.

A police officer at the scene told Anadolu Agency that the death toll was expected to rise.

"It is unfortunate that we lost so many people," the officer said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

"Nineteen were confirmed dead at the scene but, as things stand now, we have been informed that the number has shot up to 32 as those injured succumbed to their injuries."

Police said the speeding driver was trying to evade officials from the National Transport and Safety Authority when the car span out of control and into the path of traffic heading in the opposite direction.

Many Kenyans take to the nation's poorly maintained road network before Dec. 20 to get home for Christmas and avoid bus company price hikes.

The accident brings the death toll on Kenya's roads to more than 50 in the past three days.

Earlier this month, President Uhuru Kenyatta called on motorists to obey traffic rules to avoid road deaths.