A driver has been rushed to hospital after a morning crash at Fly-over area in Eldoret.
The Tanker driver is said to have lost consciousness leading to the trailer ramming into a Matatu and several other vehicles causing damages.
Mr Limo Kimutai, a Matatu driver said he was lucky to survive. Several other drivers escaped with minor injuries.
“I just saw a trailer veering off the road on my left and hit the matatu from behind pushing me further crashing two other vehicles, a pick-up and a saloon car. It was frightening but we thank God we just got minor cuts from the broken glasses,” Kimutai said.
In the 7:00 AM incident a motorist saved the situation by hopping into the uncontrolled lorry and turning off the lorry’s ignition to stop it. The tanker, whose fuel was leaking could have been more dangerous had the ignition remained on. The tanker driver who was found unconscious was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) for treatment.
Mr Mohammed Salah a turn boy indicated the driver had not had a good rest from a trip to South Sudan and now he was on his way to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“Some drivers are just hard to deal with, as much as people strive to make ends meet it’s important to check on their health regularly,” he noted.
Salah indicated many drivers had perished that way in other countries while some had been burnt beyond recognition. Main reasons are not getting enough rest and excessive drugs and substance abuse.
“I personally use all manner of drugs to keep myself alert on my duties but at the end we are a serious danger to ourselves and other road users. I hope the government at some point will consider this to save us, it’s just too much to contain from our side,” he lamented.
Police arrived at the scene and towed some of the damaged vehicles to ease the traffic that was building up on the busy Uganda road.
By Hassan Adan Ali
