Seventeen (17) Pwani University students died and scores of others were seriously injured when their college bus lost control and rolled before it collided head-on with an oncoming matatu at Kayole area along the Nairobi – Naivasha highway Thursday.
Confirming the accident, Naivasha Sub- County Police Commander Mr. Samuel Waweru said the college bus lost control when its brakes failed at Kinungi escarpment and rolled before ramming into the oncoming matatu before landing in a ditch on the side of the road.
Fourteen (14) students died on the spot while three died while undergoing treatment. Only a few people including a minor who were travelling in the ill-fated matatu sustained minor injuries and were treated and discharged.
The injured who suffered broken limbs and soft tissue injuries are fighting for their lives at Naivasha Sub County Hospital and other health facilities within the vicinity and most are said to be in stable but in a critical condition.
The bus was ferrying about 30 students to take part in sports championships at Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County.
The bodies of the deceased persons have been moved to the Naivasha Sub County Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem and further investigations into the accident.
The accident caused a heavy traffic snarl-up along the busy trans-African highway but traffic police who arrived on the scene in time managed to restore normalcy on the highway.
Exactly two weeks ago, four people died and 15 others seriously injured in a multiple accident involving five vehicles at the Kekopey area along the Gilgil – Nakuru highway.
One of the deceased persons and some of the 15 injured were secondary school students who were headed home for half-term on that fateful Wednesday afternoon.
According to the latest statistics from National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) released on March 23 this year, 974 deaths have been reported on our roads since the year began.
By Mabel Keya – Shikuku
