Three killed as trailers collide, burst into flames

By Patrick Kibet

Three people died when two trailers collided and burst into flames near Salgaa trading centre along the Nakuru-Eldoret road.

Two of the victims died on the spot while the other succumbed to injuries at the Molo District Hospital while undergoing treatment.

Three other people were seriously injured and are admitted to Molo District Hospital.

According to Alex Mumo Traffic Base Commander at Salgaa, one of the lorries ferrying maize to Nakuru had brake failure as it approached Salgaa trading centre and collided with another lorry heading to Kampala.

He said two people, the driver and a passenger, were burnt beyond recognition.

Mumo said the driver of the Kampala-bound lorry succumbed to his injuries at Molo District Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

Witnesses said the two lorries caught fire on collision and attempts to save the two proved futile.

David Mwangi who was among the first people to arrive at the scene said they found three people in the wreckage. “I heard there was an accident and when I arrived at the scene I found one woman and two men in the wreckage. We tried to put out the fire and save them but we were too late,” said Mwangi.

Bumps erected

He said the speed bumps at Sachangwany trading centre were making drivers brake unnecessarily leading to accidents.

“The bumps erected at Sachangwany should be removed given that the number of accidents have increased since they were erected,” one of the residents noted.

Residents who gathered at the scene also called on drivers to use the road carefully and urged the Government to set aside land at Salgaa for parking for lorries, which usually park along the highway.

The wreckages of the two lorries were towed to Salgaa Police Station.