At least ten individuals lost their lives and eleven sustained injuries in a tragic accident involving two passenger vehicles and a lorry at the Salama area along the Nairobi-Mombasa Road highway.
The collision occurred between two matatus and a trailer, resulting in fatalities including two female juveniles aged between five and eight, a male juvenile around five years old, three female adults, and four male adults.
According to both police reports and eyewitnesses, the accident took place on Monday, April 1, during the night, when the matatus collided head-on with an oncoming lorry at the Mlima Kiu area. The matatus were en route to Nairobi direction.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the lorry driver failed to maintain their proper traffic lane and made an abrupt right turn without due care, leading to the head-on collision with the matatus from two local saccos. A saloon car present at the scene was also affected by the accident.
Authorities confirmed that four passengers died instantly, while others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. The injured were promptly transported to Sultan Hamud Hospital for treatment of their multiple injuries.
Rescue efforts were impeded by heavy rains in the area at the time, further complicating the situation. The deceased’s bodies were relocated to a local mortuary pending identification and autopsy.
The accident caused significant disruption to traffic flow along the busy highway for over two hours until additional reinforcements arrived to assist in managing the situation.
This incident highlights the persisting challenge of road safety on this highway, as it remains notorious for accidents. The tragedy underscores the ongoing efforts by police and officials from the National Transport and Safety Authority to address the escalating cases of road accidents in the country.
Since January of this year, more than 1,000 individuals have lost their lives in road accidents, with numerous others sustaining injuries. This alarming statistic suggests an average of at least 30 daily fatalities due to accidents, profoundly impacting many families across the nation.
