Two dead, 16 injured in Chinese firm lorry accident

Sixteen workers were injured in the accident involving Stecol Corporation in Elgeyo Marakwet County [Stephen Rutto, Standard] 08.07.2019

Two people died yesterday and 16 others sustained serious injuries in a fatal road accident involving a lorry that was ferrying workers of a Chinese construction company in Elgeyo Marakwet.

Witnesses said the lorry that was ferrying soil and 20 workers veered off the road, before climbing on a wall on the side of the road and overturning, killing one worker on the spot.

Several occupants were reportedly covered by the soil and were rescued by residents.

Thomas Chepkiyeng, a resident said the lorry belonging to Stecol Corporation, a Chinese firm, sped off the hilly Tenden-Kamusei road which is under construction before hitting a Kenya Power transformer at and hitting a wall at 9 am.

Mr Chepkiyeng told The Standard the lorry climbed a wall near Kamusei Primary school gate in Cherangany/Chebororwa area, Marakwet West constituency and overturned.

“The lorry seemed to have developed a mechanical problem about one kilometer away from the scene of the accident and the driver could not control it. It went downhill at a high speed,” said Mr Chepkiyeng.

He said some survivors sustained deep cuts and broken limbs as they jumped out of the speeding vehicle.

Area chief Joseph Kibowen said: "The truck seemingly lost its breaks because it was uncontrollably speeding downhill." 

Mr Kibowen said residents rushed to the scene to rescue workers trapped in the truck before police and medical workers arrived at the scene, adding that the survivors were rushed to a nearby Kapcherop Health Centre for first aid and later taken to Kitale Hospital.

Confirming the incident, Elgeyo Marakwet police commander John Mwinzi said the duo died of suffocation after they were covered by the soil that was being transported to a section of a road linking Trans Nzoia and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

Mr Mwinzi said the driver of the Chinese Tiba truck lost control after its breaks failed.

He said six occupants sustained serious injuries and are in critical condition at the Kitale County Referral Hospital in Trans Nzoia County.

“All the 20 occupants are construction workers of the Chinese company. Ten of them sustained minor injuries but they are still undergoing treatment,” said Mr Mwinzi.

The police boss said investigations have been launched to establish the circumstances under which the accident occurred.

He said the bodies of the two deceased workers are lying at the Kitale County Referral Hospital.

Figures

2 deaths

20 occupants were in the lorry at the time of the incident

16 sustained injuries

6 are in critical condition and are receiving treatment at Kitale Hospital