Five killed as bus and lorry collide
PHOTO | ROBERT NYAGAH A policeman guards the police truck and bus which were involved in an accident at Kijiwetanga area on the Malindi-Mombasa highway on December 9, 2012.
What you need to know:
- Among those killed were three Administration Police officers
- The lorry ferrying Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) officers from Nairobi to Lamu collided head-on with the bus which was ferrying passengers from Malindi to Mombasa
- At least 20 officers were in critical condition and some had to be taken to the theatre for surgery
Five people died on Sunday following a road accident at Kijiwetanga area on Malindi-Mombasa highway.
Among those killed in the accident involving a police lorry and passenger bus were three Administration Police officers.
Eyewitnesses said there was heavy rain at the time of the accident, which could have affected visibility.
The lorry ferrying Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) officers from Nairobi to Lamu collided head-on with the bus which was ferrying passengers from Malindi to Mombasa.
An RDU officer and a passenger died on the spot while three others died while undergoing treatment at the Tawfiq and Malindi District hospitals.
More than 70 passengers were taken to the two hospitals where medical staff from all departments were mobilised to handle the emergency.
Most of those at the Malindi District Hospital were in critical condition.
At least 20 officers were in critical condition and some had to be taken to the theatre for surgery.
Five officers were transferred to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
Police had a rough time trying to control a crowd which had gathered around the scene of the accident.
Guard firearms
Drama ensued at some point after some injured police officers shot in the air several times fearing that criminals could take advantage of the situation to steal firearms from them.
Kenya Red Cross staff in Malindi spent more than two hours trying to help the injured passengers, some of whom were trapped in the bus.
After more than one hour of trying to rescue the bus driver, traffic police had to call Malindi Municipal Council firefighters to help.
The accident caused a huge traffic jam stretching about 500 metres on both sides of the road.
A contingent of Administration Police officers had to be called from Malindi to join the rescue efforts and help secure the firearms.
The two vehicles were later towed to Malindi Police Station.
Malindi traffic boss Bernard Imbaya said police were yet to establish the cause of the accident.
The accident occurred at an area considered a black spot. Residents have appealed to the highways authority to erect road signs warning drivers to be cautious when approaching the area.
