Falling tree kills newly married man in Nakuru park

Friends and relatives of a Taiwan couple who were involved in an accident at Lake Nakuru National park after an acccia Tree felt on their vehicle gather at Valley hospital on July 2,2016. The husband died on the spot while the wife sustained soft tissue injuries and was rushed to Valley hospital.The couple had visited the country to celebrate their honeymoon.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

A honeymoon for a Taiwanese couple ended tragically after a tree fell on a tour van at the Lake Nakuru National Park instantly crashing the man to death.

Abbey Chen, 30, died on the spot while his wife Chen Po Ting, 29, sustained soft tissue injuries during the Saturday evening accident.

Ting was rushed to Valley Hospital in Nakuru town where she is still receiving treatment.

Simon Kagiri, the driver of the van, escaped with slight injuries. He said the couple was on a game drive, and had planned to stay in the country for six days before proceeding to Tanzania.

The driver said the couple had planned to visit Lake Naivasha and its environs, Maasai Mara and then proceed to Serengeti and Ngorongoro in neighbouring Tanzania.

According to Kagiri, the two arrived in the country on Friday from Taiwan, spent a night in Nairobi before proceeding to Nakuru.

They arrived in Nakuru on Saturday afternoon and booked accommodation at Flamingo Hill Camp where they were to spend a night and later proceed to Naivasha on Sunday.

Mr Kagiri said after booking the hotel, he took the couple around the park where they enjoyed the game drive.

“We arrived in Nakuru at noon and booked the hotel and because the couple was interested in knowing more about the lake, we began our drive at around 4pm,” said Kagiri.

The driver said that at 5.30pm while driving back to the lodge, an acacia tree along the road to the lodge fell on the van killing the Mr Chen on spot.

RAINS AND WIND

He said Chen was seated on the back left seat while his wife was on the back right seat.

“We were to leave Nakuru on Sunday headed to Naivasha where they were to spend at Supa Lodge and later proceed to Maasai Mara,” said the driver tears flowing down his cheeks.

Job Leboo, Flamingo Hill Camp manager, said the couple had enjoyed being at the park for the few hours they were around.

Leboo attributed the accident to rains and windy weather at the park. He said that they were 5km from the lodge when the accident occurred.

According to Dr Samuel Wanjara of the Valley Hospital, Ting  sustained soft tissue injuries and was examined and treated.

“The patient is out of danger. She had soft tissue injuries when she was received at the hospital and was in shock,” he said.

Chen’s body is lying at the hospital’s mortuary while the wrecked vehicle is at Bondeni Police Station.

According to sources at the hospital who requested anonymity, officials from Taiwan Embassy visited the patient in the hospital.

Relatives and friends also visited Ting in hospital.

The hospital management said they will release the body after a post-mortem is conducted.