Salgaa crash claims four lives

Nakuru, Kenya: Four people have perished today morning in a grisly road accident that involved  a lorry and a personal car at Salgaa trading centre along the  Eldoret – Nakuru highway.

The four were aboard the personal car which was from Eldoret heading to Nakuru enroute to Murang’a for a burial function.

Salgaa Police Post Patrol Base Commander Alex Mumo said the car was overtaking when it collided head-on with an oncoming lorry. The four, three women and a man, died on the spot while the driver was rushed to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital in a critical condition. The lorry’s driver – who was the only occupant – escaped with minor injuries during the 5:45am accident.

“The personal car had four passengers and the driver who were heading to Nakuru, the driver was overtaking when he came head on with an oncoming lorry and they collided. The resulting impact killed the four passengers on the spot while the driver was taken to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital in a critical condition,” Mumo said.

According to Kevin Kuria, whose mother is among those who perished, the deceased were among a team of family members and friends who were in a convoy of two vehicles heading to Muranga’a for a burial.

“They left Eldoret in this personal car together with another 14-seater at 3am to attend a burial of a daughter whose mother is unfortunately among those who have perished together with my mother, my cousin and a neighbour,” Kuria told The Standard.

Kuria says they received the chilling news from a good samaritan who arrived at the scene after the ugly
incident.

“Somebody picked my mother’s phone, retrieved our number from the call log and informed us of the unfortunate incident. The occupants of the 14-seater were not aware of what happened but we have informed organisers of the burial of what has transpired so they can just continue with the burial at Murang’a,” Kuria said.

Mumo said that many of the accidents occuring at Salgaa are caused by careless driving. Salgaa has become a notorious black spot with police records indicating more than 27 people have been killed this year alone along the 20 kilometre stretch.

“These deaths are all being caused by careless overtaking and a disregard to traffic rules. All indicators show that  we would have avoided these deaths had the personal car driver adhered to traffic rules,” he said

He urged drivers to be extremely cautious and disciplined to avoid the perpetual accidents being witnessed, especially along the Salgaa stretch.

The deceased, whose bodies were taken to Nakuru County Municipal Mortuary for a post mortem, were identified as Mary Njeri, John Mwangi Ngugi, Margaret Karanja and a Mrs Chebet.