Four family members die after vehicle hits them
Two passengers were killed and injured 14 others after the matatu was involved in a road accident on Kerugoya-Kutus road in Kirinyaga County. Also on Makutano-Ngurubani road on February 14, 2016, four family member were killed after a vehicle hit them. PHOTO | GEORGE MUNENE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The area police boss Mr Titus Yoma said investigations into the accident had been launched.
Four family members died after they were hit by a vehicle on the Makutano-Ngurubani road in Kirinyaga County.
The incident sparked protests by residents, who attacked the driver and burnt his pick-up.
It took the intervention of the police to save the life of the driver from the wrath of the mob.
Those who died during the accident on Saturday night were three children — two boys and a girl — and their grandfather.
The four were on their way home from Piai Market.
The children died on the spot while their 58-year-old grandfather died as he was undergoing treatment at Kimbimbi Sub-County Hospital.
“The children usually picked up their disabled grandfather, who was a cobbler at the market, in the evening and took him home,” said Mr Njogu Murungaru, a witness.
“As they walked home, the driver lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road, knocking down the four,” he added.
After the accident, the driver attempted to escape but the residents blocked the vehicle, threw him out and beat him.
After learning about the incident, police officers rushed to the scene and took away the driver. They locked him up at the Wang’uru Police Station.
The burnt vehicle was towed to the station.
“We wanted to teach the driver a lesson for killing such young children and the old man,” said another witness, who wished not to be named.
As the bodies were being taken to the mortuary, relatives who arrived shortly after the accident were overwhelmed with emotions and wept uncontrollably.
Others collapsed in shock and had to be taken to the Mwea Mission Hospital.
The residents described the accident as the worst in recent times and called on the police to ensure the driver is prosecuted.
“We want justice to be done because we have lost very young lives,” said one of the residents.
The police boss for the area, Mr Titus Yoma, said investigations into the accident had been launched. He told the bereaved family that the driver would be charged with causing death through careless driving
