Easter festivities in Makueni County turned tragic last night when a grisly road accident involving five vehicles claimed the lives of 10 travellers along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway.
At least eleven other passengers were hospitalized with serious injuries during the macabre accident that occurred in Mukaa Sub County along a steep stretch at Mlima Kiu where the four vehicles were involved in a multiple collision.
Preliminary reports into the incident indicated that a driver of a lorry ferrying sand lost control of the truck while speeding downhill on the overtaking lane hitting a series of three oncoming vehicles.
According to police reports nine passengers succumbed to their injuries on the spot while a baby who was among casualties rushed to various hospitals was pronounced dead on arrival at the nearby Sultan Hamud Hospital.
Sultan Hamud Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Jane Mwende who spoke to KNA on phone confirmed that the facility registered ten bodies at the morgue and at least eleven casualties of the ghastly accident.
“We received nine bodies from the accident scene including three women, four men and 2 juveniles. However, another baby died at the hospital where we were tending to eleven other casualties’ majority of whom sustained head injuries and fractures,” she said
Dr. Mwende disclosed that six of the patients were however were transferred to Makindu hospital for specialized care while three others were taken by their relatives to a Nakuru hospital last night
“We mobilized ambulances from Makindu, Kilungu and Sultan Hamud to ferry the injured to various hospitals for treatment as our capacity was overstretched to handle the emergency.” She said.
Dr. Mwende confirmed that six of the accident victims were referred to Makindu Sub county hospital where preliminary examinations indicated that they were in critical condition save for one who was fortunately stabilized.
“Most of the casualties suffered head injuries, fractures and were suspect some had internal injuries but we have one patient whose condition is now stable,” she added.
Police reports indicates that the road accident involving five vehicles occurred at Mlima Kiu when a vehicle registration number KBC 564M Isuzu FSR coming from Nairobi direction hit a matatu Toyota Hiace reg. KDK 259U of Spanish Sacco after the driver failed to contain the heavily loaded truck on his lane.
Other vehicles involved in the sequence of head on collision with the lorry included a Toyota Hiace Reg. KCW 510C of Naekana Sacco, KDD 028Y/ZG6996 Howo Trailer and KCJ 838K Toyota Saloon.
Earlier efforts to get more details on the fatal accident information from the Makueni Police Commander Alice Kimeli turned futile as she referred the members of the press to the regional police commander.
The wreckage of the vehicles were towed to Salama police station while the death bodies were taken to Sultan Hamud Hospital mortuary for preservation awaiting autopsy.
By Patrick Nyakundi
