One person was killed on the spot on Monday morning while another six escaped death by a whisker, after the vehicles they were travelling in got involved in a grisly road accident at Kapiti plains along the Mombasa–Nairobi highway.
The vehicles, a Toyota Probox, a Toyota Fielder and a Pickup Truck were also reduced to ashes after they all caught fire in the 6 am bizarre crash which took place a few meters from the Makutano-Kyumbi junction.
Machakos County Emergency and Rescue Services director, Dr David Mwongela says the driver of the Fielder which was heading to Nairobi was trying to overtake the Probox car ahead of him but was forced to veer off to the left on noticing the oncoming pick-up truck.
He however lost control of his car and hit the Probox vehicle on the bonnet, ripping open the fuel tank which immediately exploded into flames due to the impact.
The driver then tried to swerve back to the right but ended up crashing into the fuel tank of the pick-up truck leading to both vehicles exploding into a fire ball.
It took the quick intervention by members of the public who alerted the nearby ambulance station point at Kyumbi leading to the evacuation of the six of the persons who included three children and three adults.
Dr Mwongela further said efforts to save the driver of the Probox vehicle were futile after he got trapped in the burning car.
“We were able to evacuate the passengers immediately and we were alerted by the public about the incident. Had there been a delay in responding to the emergency, all the passengers would have died on the spot,” said Dr Mwongela.
The officer said one of the adult victims escaped without injuries, one child had a fractured femur, while four others sustained minor injuries in the early morning incident.
They were all rushed to the Machakos Level 5 hospital to be attended.
By Samuel Maina
