Grisly accident claims 5 at Kimende

Grisly accident claims 5 at Kimende Written By:George Kithuka,    Posted: Sun, Aug 26, 2012

The five died in a crash involving three vehicles at Kimende on the Nairobi- Nakuru highway (File) Five people died early Sunday while several others were seriously injured in the endless and senseless road carnage that has been the curse of Kenyan road in the name of accidents. The five died in a crash involving three vehicles at Kimende on the Nairobi- Nakuru highway in early Sunday. Area Deputy Traffic Police Commandant Samuel Kimaru confirmed the incident that involved a passenger bus, a lorry and a canter and cautioned drivers to be cautious when approaching the foggy area. According to eye witnesses, the 4am accident occurred after a bus headed to Nairobi from Kisii christened Mfalme hit a postal corporation lorry that had stalled in the middle of the road. The bus lost control on impact and rolled to the sloppy roadside. A moment later a van ferrying horticultural products to Nairobi while trying to avoid hitting the same lorry lost control and hit passengers who had been rescued from this bus killing. Kimaru added that the driver of the lorry has since been apprehended for flouting traffic rules by not erecting lifesavers. He warned motorist to be cautious when approaching the heavily foggy area especially at night. 33 people who sustained injuries are admitted at  the Kijabe Mission Hospital. The victims add to the ever rising statistics of innocent lives being cut short on Kenya's roads. Elsewhere, seven people were injured in another accident that involved a lorry and three salon cars along Valley Road, Nairobi. Nairobi Area traffic police boss Patrick Lumumba blamed the drivers for speeding. In Voi, a bus driver died while a dozen passengers were seriously injured early Sunday in an accident involving a bus and a trailer along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway at Tsavo River  in Voi district in Taita-Taveta County. The bus, was heading to Mombasa at 3 am when a speeding trailer attempted to overtake at a blind corner and collided head-on with the oncoming bus. The impact of the collision was so severe that the doors of the bus jammed and the passengers had to be evacuated through the windows by well-wishers who rushed to the scene from other cars on the highway. The wounded were rushed to Moi District Hospital where those in critical condition were admitted while others were treated and discharged. The driver of the bus died while undergoing treatment while his conductor was referred to Coast provincial General hospital for specialized treatment. The fate of the truck driver however remains unknown. Confirming the dawn crash, Taita OCPD Mr. Nathaniel Aseneka called on drivers to exercise cation when driving along the highway to reduce road carnage in the region. "We are urging all the road users especially at night to exercise caution to avoid loss of lives," he said. Accidents along the busy highway have been on the rise in the recent past; in what is attributed to careless driving and lack of discipline by some road users.