20 dead in Molo road crash

Twenty people died while seven others were critically injured after a matatu they were travelling in lost control and plunged into a ravine Wednesday.

This brings to 31 people dead and seven injured in Nakuru alone in less than 48 hours since the dawn of the New Year. Eleven people died at the notorious Salgaa black spot on the Nakuru Eldoret Highway on January 1.

The 2 pm accident drew large crowds of curious onlookers and Good Samaritans who struggled to retrieve bodies from the wreckage and save survivors who were stuck in the vehicle.

The horrific road crash happened on the Molo-Olenguruone highway in Nakuru County in a hilly area characterised by hairpin bends and deep gorges down the roadside.

The accident occurred at Quarry area a few kilometres from Molo Town at a site where stonemasons mine building stones.

The 14-seater matatu which was carrying passengers from Olenguruone Town in Kuresoi District to Molo Town, lost control and veered off the road, plunging several metres down a ravine.

Incidentally, the large body count pointed out the fact that the vehicle, which is licensed to carry just 14 people besides the driver, was overloaded.

Rift Valley police boss John Mbijiwe, who visited the scene of the crash as well as survivors at Molo District Hospital said stern action would be taken against traffic police officers manning roadblocks along the 43-kilometre Molo-Olenguruone stretch.

“If the vehicle passed the officers on the road and they did not stop it, action has to be taken against the officers,” said Mr Mbijjiwe.

Visibly angry, he issued a stern warning to errant drivers plying that route which is notorious for overloading and careless driving.

At the scene, Mr Mbijjiwe said that 10 men, two women, and seven children had perished in the accident, bringing the total to 19.

However, when Nation visited Molo District Hospital later, we found that an elderly woman had passed on.