- A road accident in Chabera, Homa-Bay county, on December 14, killed 10 family members and left six others injured
- Geoffrey Ochoke, one of the six survivors of the deadly crash, narrated the final moments he shared with his deceased relatives in the van
- He also recalled how the accident occurred, noting that the driver and all those seated behind him were most affected after the collision
A cloud of grief still hangs over a family in Nyamira county following the sudden loss of 10 relatives in a devastating road accident.
Source: Youtube
The 10 family members were travelling from a wedding in Kakamega on Sunday, December 14, when their vehicle was struck by a truck that had lost control.
The tragic crash occurred in the Chabera area of Homa Bay county, along the Sondu–Oyugis Road, killing all 10 victims instantly, while only six survived.
The survivors were rushed to Rachuonyo South Hospital in Oyugis for treatment, before being transferred to Nyamira County Teaching and Referral Hospital for further care.
What happened before Chabera accident?
Speaking from his hospital bed, Geoffrey Ochoke, who is still recovering from serious injuries, described the final moments in the van before everything went dark.
Ochoke recalled the joyous atmosphere in the vehicle, with many still celebrating the wedding they had just attended at Sichira Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
“We had choir members in the vehicle, and they were singing while others were telling stories, reminiscing about the joyous occasion we had shared. Suddenly, the truck came and struck us, badly damaging the driver’s side. The driver, along with all those seated behind him, was severely injured,” he explained.
He went on to say that the lorry that collided with them head-on was speeding, possibly because it was on the uphill lane.
Source: UGC
As the driver attempted to overtake, he veered off the road and lost control of the vehicle, causing the horrific accident.
Despite suffering injuries to his head, chest, and legs, Ochoke was fortunate to be one of the six survivors.
What did Nyamira family say after the crash?
Following the Sunday evening crash, the family of the deceased rushed to the accident scene the next morning to understand what had happened.
Some went to the police station before converging at the mortuary to identify the bodies. Patrick Wanga, a family member, said police officers informed them that the lorry driver had lost control before colliding with the van.
“The lorry that hit them was coming from Kisii, while the van was headed to Kisii. We even went to the scene of the accident, and all I can say is to urge road users to be extra cautious, especially during this festive season,” said Patrick.
What Kakamega groom told in-laws before accident
TUKO.co.ke reported that Kepha Ang’awa, the man who had just married his beautiful wife, shared the brief moments he spent with his in-laws.
He recalled asking them to stay behind as he had arranged a place for them to sleep so they could travel the following day.
Ang’awa said they refused, as they had a private vehicle that would return them to Nyamira.
He described the shock and grief they felt after hearing the news of the many deaths, adding that he was unable to sleep or eat after that.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
