12 dead in Nakuru crash as matatu collides head-on with lorry
Twelve passengers, including a secondary school student, were killed in a road accident at Arimi black spot on the Elburgon-Njoro road in Nakuru County on Thursday night.
Molo Sub County Police Commander Timon Odingo said the 14-seater matatu was heading towards Njoro when it collided with a lorry travelling in the opposite direction.
“I had just passed the same road shortly before the accident occurred at about 7 pm, which claimed 12 lives, including six men, five women and a student,” Mr Odingo said, adding that recklessness and careless driving were to blame for the deaths.
According to the Red Cross team, eight survivors were taken to different hospitals for treatment.
“Three passengers were referred to Nakuru Level Five Hospital, while three others, including the driver and conductor of the ill-fated matatu, were taken to Elburgon Sub County Hospital for treatment. Two passengers were treated and discharged at the same facility,” said a Red Cross official.
When the Nation arrived at the bloody scene, bodies were strewn along the roadside as police and the Red Cross team worked hard through the night to remove them from the scene, causing a heavy traffic jam on the road.
It emerged that the Nakuru – Kiambogo Nissan Sacco involved in the fatal accident was not plying the route, and it was likely that the driver was unfamiliar with the route.
Sources revealed that the matatu lost control after the brakes failed before colliding with the oncoming truck.
According to Mr John Mureithi, who was on board the lorry travelling from Nyahururu to Molo town and sustained minor injuries, the matatu overturned after colliding head-on with the lorry.
He said the driver, who was trapped inside, was rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Mr Amos Njuguna, a resident, said many people had lost their lives in the area.
“We are calling on the government to upgrade this road to avoid similar incidents in the future. Many accidents occur at this place almost every month due to potholes that are conspicuous on this road,” said Mr Njuguna.
Elburgon MCA Njuguna Mwaura said this was one of the most serious and shocking incidents that had ever happened in the area, as it claimed such a high number of lives.
“We call on the Kenya National Highway Authority (Kenha) to upgrade this road because we have road accidents almost every week, especially from the boda boda riders, salon cars and trucks that ply this road transporting logs,” said Mr Mwaura, adding that many accidents occur as drivers manoeuvre the sharp bends on the Elburgon-Arimi stretch.
The bodies were taken to Molo Sub County Hospital mortuary, and the wreckage of the vehicles was towed to Molo Police Station.
The incident comes barely a month after all 14 passengers on board a Kitale shuttle were killed in a road accident at Migaa black spot on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway after the truck carrying coffee bags rammed into it, killing all the passengers, including the truck driver.
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