Five killed as matatu crashes into broken down truck on Nakuru-Eldoret highway
Traffic police assess the wreckage of an 11-seater Toyota matatu that was involved in a grisly road accident at Twin Bridge and claimed the lives of five passengers on the spot.
Five people were killed and several others injured early Saturday morning after a passenger matatu rammed into a stationary truck at Twin Bridge on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway.
The 5am accident involved a Kapsowar Shuttle, which was coming from Nairobi and heading towards Eldoret, and a truck that had been parked along the busy highway after breaking down at about 10pm on Friday.
According to Mau Summit Base Commander Willy Lagat, the matatu, which was ferrying 13 passengers, was travelling along the highway when it crashed into the stationary truck, resulting in deaths and injuries.
Mr Lagat said most of the passengers in the matatu were returning from a pass-out parade held in Embakasi, Nairobi County, when the accident occurred.
Eight injured passengers were rushed to Londiani sub-County Hospital, where they received emergency treatment before being referred to Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret for specialised medical care.
Traffic police assess the wreckage of an 11-seater Toyota matatu that was involved in a grisly road accident at Twin Bridge and claimed the lives of five passengers on the spot.
The crash left the matatu extensively damaged, with the force of the collision trapping some of the occupants inside the vehicle. The wreckage was later towed to Mau Summit Police Station as police began investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Mr Lagat said preliminary findings indicated that speeding could have contributed to the crash, warning motorists to exercise greater caution when approaching the section of the highway.
“The matatu was speeding. We have classified the area as a black spot. We always try to talk to the motorists. Most of the motorists who ply this highway know the spot. They should exercise a lot of caution on the road,” he said.
The accident has once again raised concerns over road safety on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, a major transit route where many accidents have been witnessed over the years.
Scene of the accident at Twin Bridge along the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway, where five passengers aboard an 11-seater Toyota matatu were killed after the vehicle rammed into a stationary truck.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Londiani mortuary as efforts continued to identify all the victims and notify their families.
Ms Caroline Langat, who lives a few metres from the highway, said that they were woken up by a loud noise followed by screams.
She said that she woke up her son and the two rushed to the highway, only to find that it was an accident involving a matatu and a truck that she had earlier seen on the highway.
"When we came here, bodies were all over the place. We called police officers, who rushed to the scene. Other neighbours also came and we started helping those injured before they were taken to the hospital. I have witnessed a lot of accidents on this road. We plead with the government to put up rumble strips; it might help," she said.
Another first responder, Mr Labaan Kipyegon, who arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, described the scene as chaotic, with the wreckage of the vehicles scattered along the highway.
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