Student killed after motorbike rams into oncoming vehicle
The mangled pick-up into which two speeding motorbikes rammed into Tuesday evening March 3, 2015. One rider, a student who was waiting to get his 2014 KCSE results, died on the spot while six other riders were injured. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Kiangua Secondary School male student, who was riding one of the motorbikes died on the spot after the motorbike lost control and crashed head-on with a pickup.
- The girl was rushed to Chogoria Mission Hospital for treatment following the 5pm Tuesday accident.
- Maara police boss John Njia said the two motorcycles were overloaded and speeding.
- The police boss warned the boda boda riders who are carrying more than one passenger saying they were doing so in total disregard of the traffic rules.
One student was killed and six others injured after two motorcycles rammed into an oncoming vehicle at Chogoria in Maara Sub-County, Tharaka-Nithi County.
The Kiangua Secondary School male student, who was riding one of the motorbikes carrying his friend from Makuri Girls School, and who was to later receive his KCSE results, died on the spot after the motorbike lost control and crashed head-on with a pickup.
The girl was rushed to Chogoria Mission Hospital for treatment following the 5pm Tuesday accident.
Five other students who were going back to school after their midterm break and who were riding on the second motorbike that rammed into the wreckage sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the same hospital where they are receiving treatment.
OVERLOADED AND SPEEDING
Maara police boss John Njia said the two motorcycles were overloaded and speeding.
“The rider’s body was taken to the Chuka General Hospital mortuary while the mangled wrecks of the motorbikes and the pickup were towed to the Chogoria Police Station,” Mr Njia said.
The police boss warned the boda boda riders who are carrying more than one passenger saying they were doing so in total disregard of the traffic rules.
Traffic officers, he said, will continue conducting crackdowns to ensure that those going against the traffic laws are arrested and prosecuted.
“We cannot continue to lose our people in road accidents due to ignorant motorcyclists.
“Every boda boda is allowed to carry one pillion passenger and ride at a moderate speed, but due to rudeness, they carry even more than three passengers and move at a very high speeds causing accidents. We will arrest and prosecute them,” said Mr Njia.
He added that the rider and the passenger should wear helmets and other protective gears to reduce chances of fatal injuries in case of an accident.
“Most of the riders and passengers do not wear helmets, something that exposes them to serious injuries in case of an accident,” he said.
