5 students die in accident while on school tour

Five high school students were killed and scores injured in a road accident on the Nakuru-Marigat highway on Friday.

The Form Four students of Nambale Boys High in Busia County were headed to Lake Baringo for a education tour when their bus rammed a lorry the driver was trying to overtake at Kinamoi in Koibatek District.

Four students died on the spot while the fifth succumbed to injuries moments after he was admitted to Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru.

The roof of the bus was ripped off on impact and seats soaked in blood. The students’ personal effects were strewn all over the scene.

The bus had 29 geography students and four teachers.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the 10am accident happened as the bus was attempting to overtake.

Human error

“We do not want to speculate but preliminary investigations indicate this accident was largely caused by human error,” said Rift Valley traffic officer Mary Omari.

The driver of the lorry, Mr Daniel Onyonyi, said he heard a loud bang from the rear and, on checking his side mirror, saw the bus veering off the road as he struggled to control his vehicle.

He, however, failed and the lorry overturned 50 metres from where the bus had landed in a ditch.

A witness, Mr Geofrey Chelal, said he took two teachers and two students who were critically injured to Mogotio sub-district hospital before a Kenya Red Cross team arrived and took charge.

At the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, doctors had a hectic time treating the students who had injuries ranging from facial cuts to fractured limbs.  

The hospital’s nursing officer, Mr John Ocholla, said 11 patients were admitted while six were treated and discharged.

A student, Felix Ngiema, said their driver was trying to overtake the lorry.

“He was driving at a normal speed but was confused by the lorry,” said Felix at the hospital.