15 perish in early morning Malindi road accident
At least 15 people died and several others were left nursing serious injuries after two buses collided head-on at Kizingo area on the Malindi-Mombasa highway early yesterday.
The accident occurred after a bus belonging to Muhsin Bus Company that was ferrying passengers from Mombasa to Garissa collided head-on with a Sabaki Sacco shuttle minibus that was driving from the opposite direction.
A senior official in the Kilifi County Government said at least six of his colleagues who were in the shuttle died on the spot while several others suffered serious injuries in the accident.
“The shuttle mostly ferries county staff. It normally drops them off at Tuskys in Kilifi... unfortunately the accident happened,” explained the official.
Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud bang caused by a tyre burst followed by the crash.
Other witnesses who spoke at the scene claimed the accident occurred as the driver of the Muhsin Bus Company swerved to avoid hitting a motorcycle which was ahead of it.
“The bus driver hooted but the motorbike rider refused to give way. In the process, the bus driver swerved to avoid hitting the motorbike, leading to the collision,” explained Stephen Ngonyi.
Officials at the Muhsin booking office in Bondeni area in Mombasa town said the bus driver, 60-year-old Salah Ahmed, had perished in the accident.
The driver is said to have left Mombasa for Garissa at 5 am with 15 passengers on board, before the accident occurred two hours later.
Experienced driver
According to staff at the booking office, Ahmed had more than 30 years of experience in PSV operations and had worked with the Muhsin Bus Company for the last six years as the main driver of the Garrisa-bound bus.
“The driver has been a trusted employee because of his long experience, we know he is a family man and we say sorry to those who have lost their loved ones,” said the official.
Kilifi County Commissioner Kutswa Olaka said both drivers died on the spot during the 7am accident.
“There was a tyre burst from the Garissa-bound bus which forced the bus driver to lose control forcing him to collide head-on with the other bus which was heading to Mombasa,” said Olaka.
He said several passengers are undergoing treatment at various health centres in Kilifi County while the bodies of those who died were taken to Malindi hospital mortuary.
“About 14 died on the spot while one died as he was being rushed to hospital. We don’t know the number of passengers that were in both buses but we will get full details later.
We urge drivers to observe caution while driving on our roads,” Olaka said.
A combined team of police officers, officials from the Kenya Red Cross and those from the Kilifi County government and well-wishers responded to emergency calls and assisted to transport the injured to hospital.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi at a press conference confirmed that six of the dead passengers were county government employees who were on their way to work when the accident occurred.
“We are saddened by the accident that claimed the lives of some of Kilifi county employees, this is so unfortunate and we are condoling with the families,” said Kingi.
Kisumu accident
Meanwhile, three people yesterday lost their lives in a grisly road accident along the Nairobi- Kisumu highway.
Kisumu County Police Commander Samuel Anampiu who confirmed the accident, said it took place at around noon at the Nyamasaria fly-over interchange, a few kilometres from the Kisumu Central Business District (CBD).
Anampiu said the accident involved a trailer that was transporting sugarcane and two private cars. He said the unknown driver of the trailer registration number KBF 878N lost its control while negotiating a corner and fell from the flyover before landing on the two stationary vehicles.
“The driver then landed on two stationary motor vehicles Reg.No. KCT 715E Toyota Fielder and KCM 124K make Toyota Passo which were both extensively damaged,” he said.
