Nairobi. 22 people died, while six others were injured in a horrific road accident in the African country Kenya on Sunday morning. The accident occurred near Kanga area on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in Makueni County, south-eastern Kenya, where a bus loaded with passengers collided head-on with a tipper truck.
Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif confirmed the accident and said that the accident happened at about 7:45 am. There were about 45 passengers in the bus. A total of 22 people present in both the vehicles have been confirmed dead in the accident, while six injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Accident happened while overtaking
According to preliminary information, the bus was heading from Nairobi to Mombasa. Meanwhile, the driver tried to overtake the queue of vehicles moving ahead on the road. It is being told that in this attempt, the bus lost control, deviated from its path and collided with a truck coming from the front.
The collision was so severe that many people lost their lives. However, the exact cause of the accident can be confirmed only after a detailed investigation.
traffic stopped for some time
Following the accident, traffic on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway was completely disrupted for some time. Emergency services personnel and local people reached the spot. The personnel engaged in relief and rescue work had to put in a lot of effort to take the injured to the hospital.
According to reports, the passengers in the bus were returning after attending a funeral ceremony. There is an atmosphere of mourning in the area after the accident.
Fatal accidents have already happened on this route
There have been several serious accidents on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in recent weeks. About two weeks ago, 17 people had died in a collision between multiple vehicles on the same route. Frequent accidents have raised concerns about road safety and adherence to traffic rules.
The Kenya National Police Service and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) are running a nationwide awareness campaign on road safety ahead of the December festive season.
Every year thousands of people die
According to NTSA data, about 4,000 people lose their lives in road accidents in Kenya every year, despite efforts by the government and private sector to improve safety.
Earlier in August, a minibus lost control and fell down a mountain slope in Moumba area of eastern Kenya. Seven people died and 28 others were injured in that accident. According to the police, the minibus left the road and fell about 500 meters.
Amidst these frequent accidents, the need to take serious steps regarding following road safety rules, safe overtaking and alertness of drivers has once again come to the fore.
Independent morning.