A night of reckless street racing at the Nyayo Stadium roundabout ended in tragedy after a speeding Volkswagen Golf GTI crashed into a staff van.
The accident which occurred on Saturday, February 22, claimed the life of a female passenger in the staff van and left several others critically injured.
Moreover, the driver of the Golf fled the scene, abandoning the injured passengers.
The victim has been identified as Elsie Njeru from Embu County, and her family is demanding justice as police hunt for the runaway driver.
Further, her family has eulogized her as a loving, warm-hearted person whose presence brought joy to everyone who knew her.
She was also a mother of a two-year-old girl.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Elsie Njeru Wandia. She tragically lost her life on the morning of Saturday, around midnight, following a car accident at Nyayo Stadium Roundabout leading to this untimely loss,” stated the family.
“They killed my friend, mama Eliana in their staff van from work. Eliana isn’t even 3. How do you hit and run?” the victim’s friend Narano Nataly on X stated.
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Suspect in Nyayo Stadium Wanted by Police
Witnesses at the scene said that the Volkswagen Golf was racing a yellow Ford Mustang when it hit the van, flipping it inside the roundabout.
The yellow Ford was spotted speeding past the crash site moments after the collision
“Street racing happens every day, especially weekends and nights. Very unfortunate. There was a day I encountered a Mercedes gang racing on Thika Road at night,” stated Meshack Samson Maina in response to the incident.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the car had been involved in a previous hit-and-run incident in Ruaraka in May 2024.
Police officers have launched a manhunt for the driver, and are also linking him to an illegal street race.
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NTSA Statistics on Accidents
The latest data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) highlights a surge in road accident fatalities, majorly attributed to speeding, reckless driving, and poorly maintained vehicles.
A report released in September 2024 revealed that between January 1 and August 27, at least 3,056 people lost their lives in road crashes.
Pedestrians remained the most affected, with fatalities rising by 15% to 1,177, up from 1,044 recorded during the same period in 2023.
Also, passenger deaths increased by 15%, with 595 lives lost compared to 519 the previous year. Additionally, 262 drivers perished in accidents.
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