The Coast bus involved in an accident at Migaa, Molo along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway had mechanical problems that were repaired for hours in Kericho County, survivors have now revealed.
The accident which occurred at around 5a.m on Tuesday, August 20, involved a 56-seater bus and a saloon car near the magic wall that was constructed to prevent accidents along the highway.
Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Jasper Ombati, who visited the scene, reported that thirteen people were killed, and 55 others were injured in the accident.
Out of the five people in the car, two died, and three were taken to the hospital, while the remaining 11 were from the bus.
“We unfortunately lost 13 people on the spot. Two of them from the car and eleven from the bus. These included seven men, five women, and one infant who was thrown off the bus on impact,” said Ombati.
Survivors Recount Horrific Accident at Migaa
Survivors of the crash recounted how their journey from Kisumu ended when the bus collided with a private car, resulting in the deaths of many passengers.
Rhoda Atieno a survivor, narrated that the vehicle had been experiencing problems, especially when climbing hills.
“Departure was delayed for nearly an hour, and we set off for the Coast at around 4:50 pm on Monday. The bus was unusually struggling uphill and stopped in Kericho,” said Rhoda.
Also Read: Accident Alert: Woman and Her Four Sons Die in Nakuru Road Accident
Atieno, who was traveling to Mombasa, said the stopover in Kericho occurred after passengers complained that the bus was not in good condition for the journey and should not proceed.
She added that they asked the driver to ask for another bus, but he instead sought for a mechanic to repair the vehicle after which they resumed the journey at around 2:20 am, Tuesday.
“We asked the driver to request another bus from their company to pick us up in Kericho as they are looking for a mechanic. We arrived in Kericho at around 7:30 pm,” she said.
“As we approached Sachang’wan, the bus started going over bumps without slowing down. It is then that the driver disclosed that the brakes had failed, and people started praying. Then our vehicle hit a small car and turned. I found myself behind the vehicle.”
Also Read: 13 Killed in Multiple Vehicle Accident at Sachangwan
Another Survivor Speaks
Jackson Odera, another survivor who was traveling to Mombasa for a new job, described how he was thrown out of the bus without any of his shoes.
“At first, we thought the driver was ignoring the bumps to make up for lost time. In a split second, we heard a loud bang, and the next moment I found myself thrown out of the bus with no shoes on,” said Odera.
The bus reportedly rammed into a Toyota Passo from behind at Migaa, killing both drivers on the spot.
Fifty-five people who sustained serious injuries were rushed to various hospitals, while the bodies were moved to the Molo Sub-County Hospital mortuary.
“We have ten survivors admitted at Molo Hospital, 17 at the Nakuru County Hospital, and another 28 at Coptic Hospital in Rongai. Investigations into the accident have commenced,” said Ombati.
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