Man hurt as truck loses brakes, lands in a ditch in Elburgon

One person was seriously injured when this truck in which he was travelling lost control and landed in a ditch after hitting a tree in Elburgon Town along the Nakuru-Molo road on January 23, 2018. PHOTO | JOHN NJOROGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The truck which was carrying 600 containers of cooking oil, was heading to Busia from Nairobi.

  • The injured passenger was taken to Molo Sub-County Hospital.

  • Police officers prevented residents from looting the truck’s cargo.

One person was seriously injured Tuesday evening when a truck he was travelling in lost control and landed in a ditch after hitting a tree in Elburgon Town along the Nakuru-Molo road.

The truck which was carrying 600 containers of cooking oil, was heading to Busia from Nairobi.

The driver of the truck, Mr Paul Carroly, said he lost control of the vehicle after its brakes failed.

"The brakes failed as I ascended the long stretch," said Mr Carroly who was unhurt.

Members of the public who rushed to the scene spent more than an hour trying to rescue the man who was stuck in the passenger seat.

Police arrest a man who attempted to loot cooking oil from the truck after it landed in a ditch in Elburgon on January 23, 2018. PHOTO | JOHN NJOROGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Nation established that the injured passenger was being ferried for a fee as his luggage was scattered all over the scene of the crash.

The passenger, who was writhing in pain, was rushed to Molo Sub-County Hospital.

Mr James Mwangi, a resident, called on the county government of Nakuru to locate put ambulances to help victims of crashes.

"It’s very unfortunate that in such an accident we cannot get an ambulance,” said Mr Mwangi.

Police officers prevented residents from looting the truck’s cargo.

Chief Bethwel Kibe urged drivers using the road not to speed, especially when driving at night.