Transport on the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway on Thursday, March 20 morning was paralyzed after a fuel tanker and a lorry collided and burst into flames near Mtito Andei.
The trailer overturned and caught fire after colliding with another truck in the Kanga area near Mtito Andei market in Kibwezi, Makueni County.
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Senior Chief of Mtito Andei confirmed the incident, stating that the drivers of both trucks sustained injuries and were taken to Mtito Andei Hospital for treatment.
The explosion caused both the trailer and the tanker to go up in flames, with images online showing the two vehicles burnt beyond recognition.
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Fuel Tanker and Lorry Collide, Burst into Flames in Mtito Andei
In images and videos seen by The Kenya Times, fire and smoke billowed from the two vehicles, resulting in a traffic snarl-up.
Some of the motorists resorted to using the roadside, which is covered with bushes, as operations on the busy road were paralyzed.
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By the time of publishing, the exact cause of the accident had not been established.
This is not the first time an accident involving fuel tanker has happened in the country.
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Accidents Involving Tankers
In June last year, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker exploded near Fedha estate along the outering road in Nairobi.
Two people were injured as a result of the incident. According to reports the driver of the tanker abandoned the vehicle after it burst into flames.
Similarly in April last year, a gas leak was reported following a grisly road accident involving a fuel tanker at Lesirwo area in Kericho County.
The accident which occurred after the tanker which was transporting LPG overturned along the Londiani-Muhoroni Road.
Meanwhile, in 2022, a tanker ferrying liquified petroleum gas overturned at Kanga area near Mtito Andei.
In another incident, the same year, a boda boda rider was burnt to death after two tankers burst into flames in Mukhonje trading centre along Webuye-Eldoret road.
The tankers were headed towards Webuye. A truck transporting building blocks caught fire and was burnt after one of the tankers rammed the one ahead of it, causing the inferno.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) last year identified common causes of petroleum tanker accidents. According to EPRA, petroleum tanker accidents continue to dominate as the leading cause of incidents within the petroleum and LPG sector.
Also Read: 12 Dead After Trailer Ploughs into Matatu Full of Passengers
For the past six years, petroleum tankers have consistently topped the list of road accidents.
The leading causes of tanker accidents include driver fatigue and lack of concentration, insufficient defensive driving skills and inadequate vehicle maintenance.
Others included road indiscipline and the absence of a comprehensive journey plan that defines approved driving times, identifies hazardous areas, and designates approved rest stops.
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