13 people killed in yet another grisly road accident

By FELIX OLICK

Thirteen passengers died while three were injured in a road accident in the Muguga area of Kikuyu constituency.

The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon after a trailer was involved in a head-on collision with a 14-seater Mololine matatu headed to Nairobi from Nakuru.

The trailer veered off the dual carriage on Nairobi-Nakuru highway when its front tyre burst.

This is the wreckage of a matatu that was involved in an accident in Muguga on Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, on Saturday. [PHOTO: MBUGUA KIBERA/STANDARD]

The upper part of the matatu was ripped off killing 13 people on the spot. The vehicle had 16 passengers.

Witnesses said most passengers’ body parts littered the road because of the impact.

Hit a stone

When The Standard On Sunday arrived at the scene, there was a pool of blood, with passengers’ belongings scattered at the scene. The three, who survived, two adults and one child, were rushed to the neighbouring Kikuyu Mission Hospital.

Traffic Deputy Commandant Samuel Kimaru confirmed that out of the 13 people who died, 10 were adults, and three children. Mr Kimaru blamed the accident on the trailer driver and claimed that he was racing with another trailer when he hit a stone along the road.

"It’s sad that passenger in the matatu died. It was not the matatu driver’s mistake. But the driver of the trailer has been arrested and will be charged in court," he said.

State of road

The accident caused heavy traffic snarl-up along the highway, and police had a hard time controlling the crowd. Kikuyu MP, Lewis Nguyai, who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident, sent his condolences to the bereaved families and asked the Government to rehabilitate the road. He said many accidents have occurred along that area due to the poor state of the road.