Four schoolgirls among five killed in road accident, 30 hospitalised

A man views the wreckage of one of the matatus that was involved in an accident along Embu-Nairobi road at Mutithi section on June 24, 2016. Five people among them four secondary schoolgirls died in the accident that involved two matatus and a lorry. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Accident involved two matatus and a lorry.
  • Witnesses claim the accident happened when a Nairobi-bound matatu tried to overtake a lorry without checking oncoming traffic.
  • Secondary school students on their way home for mid-term break among those killed.

Five people among them four secondary schoolgirls on mid-term break died in an accident involving two matatus and a lorry at Mutithi section of the busy Mwea-Nairobi road in Kirinyaga County.

The driver of the vehicle the girls were travelling in also died in the accident that left 30 passengers, among them students, hospitalised.

The critically injured were rushed to Kerugoya Level Five hospital for emergency operations according to medics at the facility.

“Fourteen of the victims were admitted at Kimbimbi Sub-County hospital while 15 others were admitted at Kerugoya level five hospital,” a medic who requested anonymity said.

Mr Joseph Bundi, a manager of one of the vehicles involved in the crash, Raha Express, said they received the report and rushed to the scene to aid in the rescue effort.

An eye witness, Mr Julius Murimi, said the ill-fated Nairobi-bound matatu was overtaking a lorry when the driver suddenly realised there was an oncoming boda boda rider followed by another matatu.

“On trying to slow down to avoid hitting the rider head on, he veered towards the lorry and collided with the oncoming matatu,’’ Mr Murimi said.

Villagers and police who went to rescue passengers trapped in the mangled vehicles, said they had to hack away metals to pull out the injured survivors.

Traffic officers from the Wanguru Police Station said they could not determine the number of students since it appeared both vehicles were overloaded.

However, Dr Gakuo said 17 students were treated and discharged while eight were admitted with hand and leg fractures.

The students were from four different schools, according to the Kirinyaga County director of health Dr Hesbon Gakuo.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)