Several Feared Dead After Matatu Full Of Passengers Rams Into Lorry

Several people are feared dead following a road accident along the Londiani-Muhoroni road which involved a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) matatu full of passengers and a trailer.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least 10 people are feared dead in the accident involving the matatu operating under Kamtco Sacco and a lorry which was ferrying maize flour.

The accident occurred after the matatu lost control and rammed into the oncoming lorry before rolling beside the road.

Photos seen by Viral Tea depicted the gravity of the crash, with the matatu suffering extensive damage, its windows shattered and pieces of glass strewn all over the road.

A wreckage of a lorry involved in an accident along the Nakuru-Muhoroni highway on September 3, 2024. /X.HEMINIGLIDER MUGENI

Meanwhile, the lorry was damaged on its front side with the photos depicting the truck leaning on one of its sides and its windscreen completely broken.

A rescue operation was quickly mobilised to help rescue those trapped under the wreckage. The rescue team comprised of police officers and the locals. 

While confirming the accident, Kericho County Commander Geoffrey Mayek revealed that the lorry driver fled the scene after causing the accident. 

Mayek however noted that a probe had already been launched into the root cause of the occurrence. The deceased were moved to the St Vincent Mission Hospital.

The latest accident paints another grim picture of the dangers posed by Kenyan roads, with vigilance and caution continuously called for among drivers plying country roads. Most accidents have been attributed to not just ignorance of the warnings but also dangerous driving habits by other road users.

This Muhoroni tragedy comes barely two days after 12 people succumbed after being involved in a nasty road accident in the Nithi Bridge area, Tharaka Nithi County. Among the fatalities were two minors; the others were eight female and two male adults.

The accident involved a Nairobi-bound hired private Toyota Hiace and a Toyota Hilux driven toward Chogoria.

Tharaka Nithi police commander Zaccheus Ng'eno revealed that the driver behind the Nairobi-bound vehicle was not conversant with the road and thus swerved off its lane to collide with the oncoming car headed to Meru.

"Preliminary investigations show that the motor vehicle coming from the Meru had not regularly used this road. We may assume that the driver did not take to his lane as expected hence the head-on collision," said Ng'eno.

"So far, we are confirming that we have collected 12 bodies from this scene and two others injured. This accident involved two motor vehicles, one was headed towards Nairobi and the other towards Meru."

The victims were passengers returning from a parental blessing ceremony in Meru.

Accident scene at Tharaka Bridge in Tharaka Nithi on August 31, 2024. /PHOTO