19 killed in Christmas crashes
A 14-seater matatu wrecked after it was involved in an accident on Nairobi- Nakuru highway on December 19, 2012, injuring four people. Nine people died and several others injured in three separate accidents in Nyeri, Tharaka-Nithi and Nakuru Counties. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |
What you need to know:
- The accident happened as the National Transport and Safety Authority revealed that the number of deaths reported between December 24 and 26 had reduced compared to the same period last year.
- NTSA estimates that in the past one week, 2,000 people have been arrested and booked for various traffic offences across the country.
- The siblings died on the spot and their bodies were taken to Naivasha Hospital mortuary while the vehicle was towed to Naivasha Police Station.
A total of 19 travellers died over Christmas countrywide, according to the transport and safety authority.
While this number is much lower compared to the previous year’s statistics, there was no let-up in the tale of agony as three more travellers died yesterday in an accident on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway.
The 10am accident near Timboroa involved three vehicles — a matatu, lorry and private car.
Two people died on the spot while a third passed on the way to Eldama Ravine Hospital. All the three were passengers in the ill-fated matatu that was badly damaged.
REDUCED FATALITIES
Occupants of the lorry and the car suffered minor injuries and were treated and discharged
Witnesses said the matatu and the car were heading to Nairobi.
The accident happened as the National Transport and Safety Authority revealed that the number of deaths reported between December 24 and 26 had reduced compared to the same period last year.
“Last year, within the two days of Christmas, there were 54 deaths,” Director of Road Safety Matthew Munyao said.
According to him, the accident that claimed five family members when their car plunged into a water-filled quarry in Migori County on Christmas Day had been reclassified.
“In line with the UN definition, the incident which occurred in a private land 300 metres from a public road cannot be referred to as a road traffic injury,” he said.
2000 ARRESTED
NTSA estimates that in the past one week, 2,000 people have been arrested and booked for various traffic offences across the country.
They include a motorist who allegedly hit and killed two brothers on Naivasha-Karati road as they walked home on Christmas Day.
Police said that investigations were nearly complete and he was likely to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
The siblings died on the spot and their bodies were taken to Naivasha Hospital mortuary while the vehicle was towed to Naivasha Police Station.
In the last one year, close to 3,000 people have died in road accidents across the country.
Another 8,670 sustained injuries, in the statistics that exclude those recorded after December 18. Most fatalities and casualties were pedestrians.
NTSA has been conducting road safety campaigns to reduce accidents during this festive season.
