Two killed, 15 candidates injured in Makutano road crash

Two people died while 18 others, including Form Four candidates were injured in a road crash involving two vehicles along the Makutano-Kutus road in Kirinyaga County.

The 15 students from ACK Malikini Secondary School, their teacher Benedict Kiilu and the driver of the vehicle they were in are being treated at hospitals in Kimbimbi and Kerugoya.

They were on their way to Embu town for an education tour when the matatu they were travelling in collided head on with another vehicle at Nyangati village.

Two occupants of the Toyota Harrier that was heading towards Nairobi died on the spot.

"I saw the car swerve to avoid hitting a dog," said a witness, Mr Mwangi Kigamba.

Another witness, Mr Ben Gatimu said he was working at a farm nearby when he heard a loud bang.

"I rushed to the scene only to find two men dead in a car while the injured students were trapped in the matatu as they screamed for help," he said.

Doctors at the two hospitals said the student had injuries on the head, hands and legs.

The accident caused a major traffic snarl-up on the Makutano-Kutus road as villagers and the police rescued the survivors.

The villagers used axes and pangas to cut metals to free the trapped students.

The two vehicles were towed to Wang'uru Police Station.

Mwea East sub-county police boss Mr Titus Yoma said the section where the crash happened is a black spot and urged motorists to drive carefully.

Mr Yoma said the bodies of the two men who died in the crash were taken to Mwea Mission Hospital mortuary.