Twelve people were killed in a collision involving a 14-seater matatu and another vehicle at Nithi Bridge along the Meru-Embu Highway on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Zacchaeus Ng’eno confirmed the accident, noting that two others were injured.
Ng’eno stated that the matatu driver, unfamiliar with the highway, was driving in the wrong lane when the accident occurred.
“We have confirmed the recovery of 12 bodies from the scene and two others injured. The collision involved two vehicles: one heading towards Nairobi and the other towards Meru,” Ng’eno said.
This was one of three accidents reported on August 31. Another accident occurred at the same blackspot on Nithi Bridge, and a third happened in Kisumu County on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Reports indicate that the accidents occurred at the notorious blackspot, leaving an unconfirmed number of casualties.
The National Transportation and Safety Authority (NTSA) reported that the emergency response team arrived at the scene to assist the injured.
“Two separate traffic crashes involving public service vehicles have been reported at the Nithi Bridge and another at the Murram area (after Koru). The National Police Service and emergency responders are on the scene,” NTSA stated.
Preliminary reports indicated that the first accident involved a 14-seater matatu and a miraa pickup.
The matatu, traveling from Meru to Nairobi, allegedly lost its brakes and collided head-on with the empty miraa vehicle coming from Nairobi to Meru.
At the other scene, a Sienta rammed into a stalled milk lorry at the Nithi Bridge. Reports suggest the Sienta, headed toward Mitheru, appeared to have suffered brake failure.
Nithi Bridge Tragic Accidents
In April, more than four people were confirmed dead and several others injured after a bus rolled at the Nithi Bridge blackspot.
The bus, carrying 39 passengers, was traveling from Maua in Meru County when it experienced brake failure.
Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Zacchaeus Ngeno confirmed the accident, stating that several passengers were feared dead and many injured.
In July 2022, 35 people were killed in another tragic accident at the Nithi Bridge after a Modern Coast bus lost control and plunged into the Nithi River.
The accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on July 24 after the bus hit a Nissan X-Trail and fell off the bridge into the river, about 40 meters below.
Also Read: Boat Accident Carrying Four Officers Capsizes in Lake Victoria
NTSA Accident Report
An NTSA report revealed that road accidents claimed at least 2,407 lives between January and July 7, 2024.
These crashes seriously injured 6,083 people and left 4,083 with minor injuries.
Among the fatalities were 919 pedestrians, 210 drivers, 478 passengers, 199 pillion passengers, 46 pedal cyclists, and 555 motorcyclists.
Also Read: Accident Alert: Casualties as Bus Full of Passengers Overturns
The NTSA recorded 389 deaths in January, 374 in February, 403 in March, 388 in April, 341 in May, and 411 in June.
Additionally, 101 road fatalities occurred between July 1 and July 7, 2024, with the highest number of deaths reported on Saturday (21), Monday (18), and Sunday (15).
Most accidents during the first week of July occurred between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m., peaking at 9 p.m.
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