A Tahmeed bus carrying passengers from Mombasa to Nairobi on Saturday, October 8, crashed into an elephant at the Maungu area along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
The driver of the bus was, according to eyewitnesses, speeding when the elephant suddenly crossed the road leading to a heavy collision.
Consequently, the elephant died on the spot while the bus’s front face was damaged from the resulting impact.
The passengers were left waiting in the cold while the carcass laid on the road.
Upon learning about the accident, residents from the area arrived armed with machetes, with the majority determined to take home a stake of the fallen mammal.
The driver also sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby facility alongside other injured passengers.
Passenger in the Bus Recounts Moment
In a statement on social media, a user named Malik Mwabondo who was among the passengers expressed his relief after escaping unhurt.
“Tahmeed Bus which I was traveling in from Mombasa crashed into an elephant around Maungu near Voi town. Driver badly injured and some few passengers,” he stated.
The Kenya Wildlife Service was yet to issue a statement on the elephant by press time. But this was not the first case of a crash between motorists and wild animals along the Highway.
Also Read: Survivor Recounts Last Moments Before Highway Accident that Killed 12
In the past, cases of elephants, among other animals, being hit by vehicles while attempting to cross the road have been reported despite warnings cautioning drivers against speeding.
Climax Accident
Elsewhere, a Climax bus was involved in a multiple crash around the Mau Summit area, leaving scores injured.
The two accidents came on the back of a protracted tussle between the Ministry of Transport and public service vehicles over a planned move to have all drivers undergo a retesting exercise.
Also Read: Murkomen Issues Fresh Directive on Matatu Drivers Retesting
The retesting was aimed at evaluating the suitability of drivers in the public service sector as one of the ways to enhance safety.
On Friday, October 6, the Ministry issued a statement notifying drivers that the retesting had been rescheduled for a second time.