Nine-year-old girl crushed to death in trailer accident

The wreckage of a trailer that knocked down a nine year old girl at Sachangwan black spot along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, killing her on the spot. (Photo: Boniface Thuku)

A nine-year-old girl was Sunday crushed to death by a trailer in Nakuru.

Two other people were injured. Witnesses said the trailer, which was heading to Nairobi from Kisumu, was speeding and the driver lost control of it at Sachangwan and knocked the girl, who was in the company of her mother and aunt.

Dennis Kiprotich, a witness, said the girl and the two women were at a bus stop waiting for a matatu to Kisumu when the accident happened.

Mr Kiprotich said the two women, who sustained serious injuries, were taken to Rift Valley Provincial General hospital.

"The driver of the trailer was speeding and on reaching the scene, he tried to avoid hitting a vehicle that was coming from opposite direction, only to hit the three," he said.

Vincent Langat, also a witness, said he heard cries of help and on rushing to the scene, he found the body of the girl lying beneath the trailer.

Mr Langat said he teamed up with other well-wishers and rushed the two injured women to the hospital.

Rachel Omari, a Kenya Red Cross Society employee, said the girl and her mother were returning home from visiting their grandmother.

"Red Cross officers rushed to the scene and gave first aid to survivors," Ms Rachel said.

The accident occurred amid calls for road users to observe traffic rules to avoid accidents. Rift Valley Provincial Traffic Enforcement Officer Mary Omari said accidents were on the rise in the region.

Ms Omari said free-wheeling and speeding were the main causes of accidents at Salgaa, Sachangwan and Kibunja.

The traffic boss said since January some 257 accidents had been reported. There have been 645 casualties, 163 deaths, 221 serious injuries and 261 people were slightly injured.

Last year, she said, in the same period, there were 153 accidents and 116 deaths.

"There has been an upsurge of deaths on our roads in the region for the last two months. It is a worrying trend," she said.

"Drivers should slow down on reaching Kibunja and ensure they observe traffic rules. There are newly installed bumps and signs that if observed, accidents will reduce."