Three people died and over 18 others were left in critical condition after two Nissanmatatus (public minibuses) collided along the Bondo-Kisumu road, near Kit Mikai Shopping Centre in Kisumu County.
Kisumu OCPD John Mwinzi said one passenger died on the spot, while two others succumbed to injuries as they were rushed to the nearby hospitals.
Mwinzi said those injured were later rushed to Kombewa District hospital in Seme while others were ferried to New Nyanza General hospital in Kisumu.
Two of the victims were admitted in the Intensive Care Units. However, some who were taken to Kombewa have been transferred to New Nyanza General hospital after their conditions worsened.
Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred as the matatu, which was headed to Kisumu from Bondo lost control and rammed into the other from the opposite direction.
“The vehicles were at a high speed. What we saw was bad driving and one lost control,” said John Ochieng’, eye witness.
Residents of the area, however, appealed to the Government to look into the causes of frequent accidents at the point.
They described the scene as a black spot, saying many lives had been lost there in the last four months.
Posts
OPEN LETTER, RE FATAL SERENGETI HOT AIR BALLOON ACCIDENT
ReplyDeleteA question of transparency
For the Attention of Serengeti Balloon Safaris Ltd.
Mr Anthony Pascoe
Mr Colin MacKinnon
The Old Rectory
The Shallows
Saltford
Bristol
BS31 3EU
Subject: Request for information relating to:-
fatal hot air balloon accident, Serengeti 29 September 2010.
From: Hot Air Balloon Safety Concerns
Date: 3rd August 2011
Dear Sirs
Sometime ago I attempted to contact the Tanzanian civil aviation authority in regards to the above matter. At that time, I was requesting information surrounding the above accident. Unfortunately it appears that the above authority is unable or unwilling to provide documentation in this regard, I did not received a reply.
Of most concern, is that that my follow up request made to the TCAA were met with my email being rejected. Obviously this less than professional behavior raises the question of credibility of the investigating authority.
I am sure that you would agree that in view such severe & tragic circumstances, that a display of transparency on your side would help alleviate concerns as to the credibility of any findings.
With the above in mind, I shall be most grateful if you would be so kind to forward me the final accident report. Should that not be conclusive at this time, I would request that you forward me any interim report/information that you may have in this regard. Subject to yourselves agreeing to your Involvement in my efforts, I in return shall be happy to afford you the courtesy of the opportunity to view my proposed hypothesis prior to it release.
I feel that you may well appreciate, given that hot air balloon safety concerns have received reports from passengers and relatives of those involved in the above-mentioned accident, that by affording you this oppertunity, would ultimately assist in producing a balanced view of all events that took place on that day.
Furthermore, I feel that you may appreciate that if lessons can be learned from what went wrong on that day, we can all work towards safer practices within the hot air balloon rides industry. With that in mind, please be so kind to bring me up to date on what, if any safety improvements have taken place within your organization since the 29th Sept 2010.
Should it not be possible, for whatever reason for you to provide such timely information, I shall have no alternative but to base my hypothesis on all available information at that time.
I hope that I can count on your full and prompt cooperation.
Yours sincerely
Nigel J Pogmore
Hot Air Balloon Safety Concerns
Sorry I can't help.
ReplyDeleteNot enough fuel to fly safely yet more than enough to fuel heated, possibly legal debate.>>>>>>>
ReplyDeleteLETTER TWO OF THREE
For the Attention of Serengeti Balloon Safaris Ltd.
Mr Anthony Pascoe
Mr Colin MacKinnon
The Old Rectory
The Shallows
Saltford
Bristol
BS31 3EU
Subject : Request for information relating to:- your normal fuel consumption involving your passenger hot air balloons in the Serengeti. 2007- March 2009
From: Hot Air Balloon Safety Concerns
Date: 9th August 2011
Dear Sirs
I have noted that I have not received any response to my request made on 3 August 2011 This was relating to your fatal accident 29th of September 2010.
As I understand that Serengeti Balloon Safaris limited and or its directors are now in the process of taking legal action against me, surrounding my accusations regarding the shortage of fuel placed upon your aircraft during passenger flights, I would respectfully request that you will comply with the following:-
Given that your company maintains that it was operating with the correct amount of fuel for your planned flight duration of one-hour. At the same time, also claiming that you carry a mandatory 50% reserve fuel. It would not be unreasonable to request that you forward your fuel calculations indicating your normal fuel burn rate either by the minute or by the hour. If it is that you have now increased fuel allocation since I departed your company, please indicate to what extent this is in your response.
I have already submitted my preliminary calculations to numerous highly credible individuals within the hot air balloon rides industry for scrutiny. As you are aware I am of the mind that your passenger balloons are operating seriously below fuel requirements and therefore pose a potential risk to both pilots and passengers, not to mention to your credibility as AOC holders.
ICAO Safety Oversight Audit Required:
Furthermore, I genuinely believe that your company has been allowed to operate in such substandard fashion, owing to the fact that the Tanzanians Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) is ill-equipped, insufficiently knowledgeable, lacks expertise, not restricted to, yet particularly in matters relating to commercial hot air balloons. General public comments delivered by the now director-general issued on May 4 2011 seem to support this view. With the facts mentioned above representing a serious safety oversight, I therefore hold the belief that this authority is in urgent need of an in-depth safety audit and should be held accountable to the International civil aviation organisation to which they are signatories. As you are in receipt of my mail of 3 August 2011 you are already aware that my attempts to contact this authority have been met with obstruction, and neglect of duty.
As data requested, should in normal circumstances be already on your records, therefore easily accessible, should I not receive the above information by midday Friday, 12 August 2011, I shall be left with no alternative but to presume that you no longer stand by your earlier claims.
Yours sincerely
Nigel Pogmore
Hot Air Balloon Safety Concerns
I am sorry I can not help you.
ReplyDelete