By Standard Team

The angel of death returned on our roads and claimed 12 lives in separate road accidents.

The acrid smell of blood and bodies thrown all over were witnessed at a grisly accident that claimed nine people on the Machakos-Kyumbi Road on Thursday.

Many others were seriously injured.

And as stretchers brought victims to Machakos District Hospital, their relatives hoped and prayed for their survival. Forty-one survivors were admitted to the hospital.

The 9am crash involving three vehicles occurred at Kithini market about 9km from Machakos town.

Seven people in a Kitui bound matatu and one person from a mini-bus died on the spot. The other victim died at the hospital.

Head of Machakos Hospital Julius Rogena said the dead were four men and five women.

He said of the 41 victims, 36 were treated and discharged, while four would be transferred to Nairobi for further treatment.

"One was in critical condition and we transferred him immediately to Kenyatta National Hospital," Dr Rogena said.

At the accident scene, body parts, clothes, personal effects and vehicle metal parts were scattered all over. Machakos OCPD Hassan Barua and the local Traffic Commandant Dorcas Nyagah arrived at the scene moments after the crash and started rescue operations.

Killer section

Mr Barua described the accident as "most horrible", adding they were investigating the cause.

Residents called for the erecting of bumps at the section, which they identified as a black spot.

Two people in a car heading to Nairobi sustained minor injuries and were treated and discharged.

A survivor, Ms Mary Musyoka, who was travelling to Nairobi with her husband Samuel Musyoka, blamed the accident on speeding.

And at the hospital, those requiring X-Ray services could not be attended to due to a power blackout.

"We are sending them straight to the wards to begin treatment as we wait for electricity," said a doctor who did not want to be named.

The wreckages of the two vehicles were later towed to Machakos Police Station.

In another accident, three people died and five others injured when their matatu collided with a trailer on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.

The Wednesday night accident occurred near the Jolly Farm, causing a huge traffic snarl up.

Molo Police Commander Litabalia Achesa said: "The two vehicles collided at a sharp corner. It was raining heavily and visibility was poor."

Two passengers died on the spot, while another succumbed to injuries at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital.

Mr Achesa said five passengers sustained serious injuries and were admitted to several hospitals in Molo and Nakuru. Two other passengers were lucky to escape with slight injuries.

— Reports by Ramadhan Rajab, Daniel Nzia and Stella Mwangi