Former Nation Photojournalist William Oeri Dies In Road Accident

Oeri worked in Nation Media Group (NMG) as a deputy photojournalist for many years...

Former Nation Photojournalist William Oeri Dies In Road Accident
Collage of the wreckage of a Toyota Wish William Oeri was travelling in which was involved in an accident on January 15, 2023. /TWITTER.EAGLE FEED

Veteran photojournalist William Oeri, who worked at the Nation Media Group (NMG) and People Daily newspaper, is dead.

According to sources who spoke to Viral Tea, Oeri perished following a road accident that occurred on Sunday, January 15 at Makuyu, Murang'a County.

A police report seen by Viral Tea revealed that the accident, which involved a head-on collision with an oncoming lorry, occurred at about 3.00 pm at the Kitini area along the Sagana-Kenol road heading towards Kenol in Murang'a.

Collage of the wreckage of a Toyota Wish William Oeri was travelling in which was involved in an accident on January 15, 2023. /TWITTER.EAGLE FEED

"It happened that one unknown driver was driving a motor vehicle registration number KCU 209W make Toyota Wish alone on board from Sagana towards Kenol general direction and on reaching the location of the accident CMM did fail to keep to his nearside and collided head-on with an oncoming motor vehicle reg no KDD 227K Isuzu Elf that was being driven from Kenol towards Sagana direction," the report read in part.

Police added that due to the impact the driver succumbed instantly to the injuries sustained whereas the driver of the lorry sustained minor injuries alongside his passenger.

Due to the impact, the Toyota Wish burst into flames but members of the public used sand to put out the fire before a fire brigade from Kenol arrived to extinguish it.

"Both vehicles were extensively damaged. The body of the deceased moved to General Kago funeral home awaiting identification and autopsy," added the report.

Both vehicles were towed to and detained at the station yard pending inspection as investigations were launched.

Oeri worked in Nation Media Group (NMG) as a deputy photojournalist for many years. At the time of his death, he was working with the People Daily newspaper as a photojournalist.

Condolences from the media fraternity have since poured in following Oeri's demise.

On Monday, January 16, four people died and 46 others were injured in a road accident involving a bus along Kipsitet-Muhoroni road in Kericho County.

According to Kericho County Police Commander Rico Ngare, “The driver lost control of the bus at the point of the accident. Three females and one male lost their lives," further noting that the bus rolled several times.

Police launched a manhunt to apprehend the bus driver who disappeared from the accident.

Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen revealed on December 20, 2022, that the number of Kenyans who died in road accidents in 2022, which he said was more than those of COVID-19. According to him, 4,449 people lost their lives in the last year, a three per cent increase from 2021 when there were 4,271 cases.

CS Murkomen continued by breaking down the cases, noting that there were 403 driver fatalities overall, 1,190 motorcycle riders, and 1,595 pedestrians. In the same 2022 time frame, 1,204 passengers died.

Wreckage of a pickup transporting miraa that was involved in an accident in Meru on January 11, 2023. /CITIZEN DIGITAL