A fatal incident occurred on Sunday morning along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries. The collision transpired when a speeding trailer collided with a stationary 14-seater matatu at a traffic police checkpoint near the Eveready roundabout.
According to a police report from Nakuru west Subcounty Police commander Francis Wahome, the driver of the trailer with registration number KCG 355Y/ZE1279 lost control at the accident site. The trailer crashed into a Ngata Sacco matatu with registration number KBK 254C, which then collided with another trailer with registration number KDB341D/ZG4149.
The impact claimed five lives immediately, while several others suffered severe injuries from both vehicles. Of the total casualties, two individuals succumbed to their injuries while being transported to the hospital.
Remarkably, the conductor of the matatu escaped harm by jumping out of the vehicle before the collision. He alerted nearby police officers about the oncoming trailer, which had reportedly lost its brakes, preventing further casualties.
This tragic event follows a recent trend of rising concerns about the effectiveness of traffic police officers stationed along major roads. Some individuals speculate about potential corruption within the ranks, suggesting that bribery may be contributing to the overlooking of traffic violations.
This incident echoes a similar case in Makueni, where 10 people lost their lives, and seven others were hospitalized. Questions have arisen regarding the matatu’s occupancy, as it reportedly passed through multiple checkpoints but ended up carrying 17 passengers during the accident.
Concerns over bribery within the transportation sector were highlighted earlier in the year during a meeting led by Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen. This underscores the need for addressing corruption issues to enhance road safety and prevent tragic accidents.