Actress killed in horror car crash
The scene of the accident on Eastern Bypass. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- According to Nairobi Traffic Commandant Edward Mwamburi, Ms Kanana Gichuru’s car was overtaking another vehicle on a climbing lane when it collided head-on with the lorry.
- She added that Ms Gichuru was discharged three weeks ago from a South African hospital where she had been admitted after developing breathing complications.
“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘HOLY CRAP!!!! WHAT A RIIIDEE...!”
That is what a young woman posted on her Facebook page 10 days ago, borrowing from the famous quote by Hunter S Thompson.
On Tuesday, a car she was driving rammed a truck at Utawala on the Eastern bypass, Nairobi, killing her on the spot.
According to Nairobi Traffic Commandant Edward Mwamburi, Ms Kanana Gichuru’s car was overtaking another vehicle on a climbing lane when it collided head-on with the lorry.
“The car hit the lorry and she died instantly,” Mr Mwamburi said of the accident that took place at around 10am.
Ms Gichuru was an airline employee, an actress, a photographer, singer and blogger.
After her death, fans tweeted, many of them describing her as full of life.
It is not yet clear if the 28-year-old was rushing to work, but Mr Mwamburi said the car was speeding. It was left a mangled wreck.
Her Facebook post on death was shared widely on the social media. Many thought she had a premonition about her death.
One Nancy Wanjira wrote: “OMG!!! So shocking RIP”, as a comment to the post while Alyc Nteere wrote: “Incredible. Did she feel it? Just seen some horrible photos on WhatsApp. R.I.P girl”.
“That accident was too bad RIP,” one Mark Rachuonyo Ogendi wrote.
Several others expressed shock and grief on Ms Gichuru’s wall.
A colleague said she was very friendly, liked to interact with everybody and had a “free spirit”.
“Ms Gichuru was the kind of person you would interact with freely. She was the first friend to every employee. She knew no stranger,” she said.
She added that Ms Gichuru was discharged three weeks ago from a South African hospital where she had been admitted after developing breathing complications.
“Reeling from shock. Such a sweet person, beautiful and talented,” said one of her friends, Debula Kabwagira.
Ms Gichuru acted in local TV drama series How to find a Husband alongside Ms Sarah Hassan and Ms Lizz Njagah.
