Four people died and 11 others sustained serious injuries after a 14-seater matatu and lorry collided at Kiriani near the infamous Nithi bridge in Tharaka-Nithi County Friday evening.
Maara sub county OCPD Johnston Kabusia confirmed that two people died on the spot while two others were pronounced dead on arrival at the Chogoria Mission hospital. Their bodies were taken to the hospital mortuary.
According to eye-witness, John Mutugi, the driver of the lorry that was ferrying building blocks from Meru town to Chuka town hit the matatu that was ferrying ten people from Nairobi.
“The Nissan driver had tried to avoid the lorry that seemed to have some mechanical problems but unfortunately it followed them hitting his vehicle from behind,” said Mutugi.
He said people from the nearby Marima market who heard the crash rushed to the scene and rescued people who were trapped in the wreckage.
Nicholas Mutegi, another resident said one of the injured died at the scene, more than half an hour after he was removed from the wreckage as there was not ambulance to rush him to the hospital.
The OCPD said most of the injured who were taken to Chogoria Mission Hospital have multiple fractures on the legs and hands and tissue injuries.
“I urge drivers to be careful while on this road because it has very sharp turns,” said Kabusia.
The residents said they have witnessed more than ten fatal accidents on the stretch between the notorious Nithi bridge and Chogoria town and urged government to erect bumps to reduce speeding of vehicles.
They also asked government to repair the Meru-Embu road which has developed many potholes.
By Gladys Maina and David Mutwiri
