Triple tragedy as fire truck kills mourners in Nyeri

A triple tragedy has hit a Nyeri village after a fire engine killed two people and injured at least 10 others as it responded to an emergency.

The accident occurred on Wednesday, two hours after residents of Thunguma Village called for help to put out a house fire.  

One of those killed was the nephew of a woman whose house was on fire and the other a mourner.

One was a high school student and the other a man in his 20s, said Nyeri OCPD Charles Rotich.

The fire started at 1.30pm and the truck arrived at 3pm.

But as it was approaching the village, it lost control and swerved into a crowd that was attending a burial opposite the fire scene.

The driver failed to stop the truck as it ploughed into the crowd. 

This is the same truck that last week had to be operated by boda boda riders after its crew were unable to use it during an inferno.

“We were attending to a young woman who had fainted when we saw the truck.

"It is by luck that we rolled over because the truck’s wheels came to a halt close to my head,” said Ms Charity Wangari, who sustained minor injuries in her leg.

Another witness, Ms Joyce Muthoni, added: “The truck was moving at high speed and was out of control. It would have killed many more.”

The fire broke out at 1.30pm after a gas cylinder exploded. Witnesses said the engine arrived two-and-a-half hours later after the house had been reduced to ashes.

“Everyone was angry at the firemen because in addition to coming in late, they have caused more loss by killing and injuring people who were attending the burial,” Ms Rahab Danson said.

The driver of the truck is said to have fled the scene.

Ten injured victims were taken to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital with fractures, cuts and grazes caused by barbed wire.