- On Saturday, January 3, a horrible accident occurred in the Kikopey area along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway
- Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winsone Mwakio explained what caused the accident that involved a Great Rift Shuttle matatu and two trailers
- Photos from the scene indicate how horrific the accident was, as the 14-seater PSV matatu was extensively damaged
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nakuru – At least five people have been confirmed dead following a grisly accident along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway.
Source: Facebook
The Saturday, January 3, morning accident involved a Great Rift Shuttle PSV matatu and a trailer at Kikopey area in Gilgil.
How did the Kikopey road accident occur?
According to the police report, the trailer lost control moments before ramming into the Bungoma-bound 14-seater matatu of registration number KCS 317M.
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Preliminary investigations indicate there was another truck ahead of the matatu at the time of the crash, causing the public service vehicle to be sandwiched between the two trucks.
“It involved a Beiben truck (UAY 036P/UAY 696P), a Toyota Hiace matatu (KCS 317M) operated by Great Rift Shuttle, and a stationary Mercedes Actros (KAY 648Y/ZC 7054). All the vehicles were moving from Gilgil towards Nakuru, and the drivers of the Beiben truck and the matatu were not found at the scene. The Beiben truck failed to keep a safe distance and rammed into the rear of the matatu, pushing it into the stationary Mercedes Actros,” the police report read.
How many people died in the Kikopey road accident?
Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winsone Mwakio confirmed the incident, saying five passengers died on the spot.
The police report indicated that several other passengers sustained serious injuries in the multiple-vehicle accident and were rushed to the hospital.
“As a result of the collision, five (5) passengers travelling in the matatu died on the spot, while several others sustained serious injuries. The injured were rushed to Gilgil Sub-County Hospital and St. Joseph Mission Hospital for treatment, where they are reported to be in serious condition,” the police report read.
Eyewitnesses described the crash as catastrophic, with the matatu severely damaged and fears rising over numerous casualties.
Motorists have been advised to exercise caution along the highway as traffic snarl-ups continue due to the accident.
Emergency responders and traffic authorities are at the scene, managing the flow and assisting victims.
Police stated that the Great Rift Shuttle matatu was extensively damaged, with the trailer sustaining frontal damage.
Source: Twitter
“The matatu was extensively damaged, the Beiben truck sustained frontal damage, and both were towed to the station, while the Mercedes Actros was driven to the station. All vehicles are detained pending inspection, and the case is being handled as PUI under Cause Code 29,” the report said.
How many people died in Mombasa Road accident?
The incident comes after another fatal road traffic accident occurred along Mombasa Road near Konza City at approximately 2205 hours, involving a bus and a 19-seater Nissan vehicle.
Eleven people sustained injuries and were received at Machakos Level 5 Hospital, where two male patients later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total number of fatalities at the hospital mortuary to eight.
Police said six persons, three males and three females, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
