Police: What Caused Modern Coast Bus Accident Killing 33

Police have exposed a blunder that led to the grisly road accident whereby a Modern Coast bus plunged into River Nithi along the Meru-Nairobi highway on Sunday, July 24.

Speaking to the media, Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Donatha Chali revealed that the bus driver had approached the Nithi Bridge at high speed and ignored the traffic warnings to motorists to slow down.

She also revealed that the bridge is a known black spot and had claimed many lives before the accident. The Mombasa-bound bus had veered off the bridge after the driver lost control of it.

An image of the Modern Coast bus that plunged into the Nithir River after veering off Nithi bridge on Sunday, July 24, 2022. /MERU DAILY NEWS

Media reports had indicated that the bus' brakes had failed, causing it to hit the guard rails of the bridge and plunge into the river. It then rolled several times downhill before stopping beside the river.

Images seen by Viral Tea revealed that the bus was completely wrecked, with the roof torn off by the impact of the crash. Several bodies were spotted on the bus as well as in the river along the river bank.

“Police officers will remain at the scene for the whole night to ensure that no person interferes with the scattered property until the operation resumes Monday morning,” she noted. 

Eyewitnesses backed up police reports that the bus was travelling at a high speed before hitting the guard rail.

"The injured have been moved to Chuka Level 5 hospital and hospitals in Tharaka Nithi. The deceased have been taken to the funeral homes. The rescue efforts have been temporarily suspended due to darkness," Kenya Red Cross Communications Manager, Peter Abwao told the media.

Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Nobert Komora revealed that at least 24 people were confirmed dead in the accident, with the death toll since rising to 33.

A team from the Tharaka Nithi County Fire and Rescue team was deployed to the scene, alongside responders and a section of motorists. Survivors were rushed to PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital and the Chuka County Referral Hospital, with 10 of them in critical condition.

The accident came after three people were on Wednesday evening, July 20 killed following a grisly road accident in Narok County.

Worrying statistics by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicated that 1,912 people have died in road accidents since January 1, 2022, which is a nine per cent increase from 1,754 in 2021.