Seven people have been killed in a tragic road accident involving a matatu and two trailers along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway on December 31.
Notably, five of the victims died on the spot, while other two succumbed to injuries while receiving medical attention.
Additionally, several other passengers suffered serious injuries in the 7.20 AM road crash.
According to a National Police Service statement released on December 31, the driver of the trailer lost control leading to the tragic accident.
“The driver of the trailer lost control and rammed into a matatu belonging to Ngata Sacco which in turn rammed into another trailer,” read part of the statement.
Additionally, the authorities noted that the other passengers in critical conditions were rushed at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital for urgent medical attention.
The road accident is reported to have happened close to a police traffic block located near Eveready Roundabout along the busy highway.
Police blamed for Accident
Furious Kenyans online reacted to the police statement with most blaming the authorities for the tragic loss of lives.
“The matatu was stopped by police officers only for it to be rammed by a trailer.
This accident is entirely the fault of the police manning the roadblock,” noted Dennis Ayoyi.
Also Read: Four People Killed in Budalangi Road Accident
Echoing his statement, another user noted that the scene of the crash is the same spot manned by traffic officers.
Nuru noted, “This is the same Nakuru Eveready round-about that traffic officers stop PSVs.”
Also, a video has resurfaced online showing residents at the scene of the accident looting maize from one of the trailers.
Specifically, the video shows some members of the public getting away with maize bags as police nearby look by.
Festive season crashes
The accident is among the several tragic cases that have been recorded since the start of the festive season.
Notably, content creator Mulamwah escaped death narrowly after he was involved in a grisly road accident on the same highway on December 30.
Taking to his social media account, the content creator narrated how the car he was travelling in rolled severally along the busy highway at around 12.47 PM.
“At Ngata bridge just before Nakuru we rolled several times trying to evade a car in front which had just stopped suddenly following emergency braking,” he said.
Fortunately, Mulamwah and the other passenger emerged from the wrecked vehicle unharmed.
Also Read: Content Creator Mulamwah Narrates Last Moments Before Road Accident
Moreover, the National Transport and Safety Authority has been undertaking measures to ensure drivers adhere to road safety guidelines.
In a statement shared on December 18, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen noted that the number of fatalities cause by road accidents reduced this year.
Murkomen lauded the progress saying the ministry’s collective effort contributed to the reduction of road fatalities this year.
However, he pointed out that the reduction in deaths coincided with an increase in the number of seriously injured individuals.
“It takes care and responsibility on the part of all road users to address challenges presented on our roads.
Do not allow a reckless driver to take away the lives of innocent road users,” added Murkomen.
