One person has died and 5 others seriously injured after a diesel fuel tanker veered off the road along Ekerenyo-Kebirigo road in Nyamira and landed on five homes along the road while people were asleep.
Nyamira North Sub County Police Commander, Paul Ngeiywa while confirming the incident today morning to press said that at around 5:30 AM early today the oil tanker headed towards Kebirigo direction from Ekerenyo veered off the road at Ibara area rolled several times smashing five buildings which were along the road.
“The tanker which rolled caused the death of one person who was sleeping in one of the houses, the five who were seriously injured and rushed to Nyamira Referral Hospital, three were rescued from the destroyed houses and the remaining two are the driver and turn boy of the oil tanker,” the police commander confirmed.
“We have managed to control the crowd and because the tanker was loaded, we have advised neighbours where the tanker rolled not to light fire in their kitchens yet because it may cause a more serious calamity which we are grateful that they have complied with,” he added.
Kiabonyoru Division Assistant County Commissioner, David Wafula, told the press that Ibara area where the accident happened is a black spot because the road has meandering sharp corners and more than 15 incidents of accidents have been reported in this year alone.
“We request the Kenya National Highways Authority officials to erect road barriers along this section of the road and put elaborate road signs to minimize the incidents of alarming number of road accidents on this spot,” he appealed.
He thanked the security officers and county disaster management officers who acted very fast to control the crowds who could have fetched the spilling diesel fuel from the overturned tanker.
Geoffrey Momanyi Orina, told the press that he is brother to the deceased lady and three who were rushed to Nyamira Referral Hospital for medication are his siblings and said he only escaped from the incident because he does not stay at home.
By Deborah Bochere
