Businessman kills self in Meru after a driving blunder

Members of the public view the wreckage of businessman Luke Kiumbe Muriithi’s car. [Olivia Murithi, Standard]

A businessman died yesterday in a bizarre accident that saw him mistakenly reverse his car, which then threw him out and rolled over him.

Meru County Deputy Police Commander Francis Wahome said the 62-year-old Luke Kiumbe Muriithi had driven into a petrol station in Meru town to check his tyre pressure.

When he finished checking the pressure he got into his silver BMW X5. Crossed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the petrol station shows Mr Kiumbe hit the accelerator pedal, although the car was on reverse gear.

“The CCTV footage showed that the vehicle zoomed off on the reverse and threw the businessman out from the driver’s door," said Wahome.

"The vehicle rolled over him, hitting some pillars, and was only stopped by a gas cylinder storage cage.”

Kiumbe was pronounced dead after being taken to Meru Level Five Hospital. His body has been moved to the Meru Funeral Home.

Wahome said after studying the CCTV footage, police ruled out any foul play in the killing.

Drinking spree

According to witnesses who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity, the businessman had spent most of Monday hopping from bar to bar in a drinking spree.

His car was involved in a minor accident with another motorist at Makutano area, but he sped off without reaching out to the motorist.

Wahome said investigations into the incident are ongoing.

At the same time, a Meru court has fined two lorry drivers Sh375,000 for carrying excess load on their vehicles on the Nanyuki-Isiolo highway.

Jonah Mureithi Kiago and Nicholas Maina Ndigirigi were ordered to pay Sh175,000 and Sh200,000 fines respectively, or serve six months in prison.

Mr Kiago pleaded guilty to a charge of exceeding his vehicle’s tonnage by 9,500 kilogrammes.

Ndigirigi admitted to exceeding the highway maximum load capacity by 11,100 kilogrammes.

The two had appeared before Meru chief magistrate Hannah Ndung’u.