NINE DIE IN EMBU NEW YEAR ACCIDENT

The wreckage of the matatu that collided head on with a lorry at Ikong’u bridge in Kiangima, Embu West Sub-County on Thursday afternoon January 1, 2015. Nine people, including the lorry driver, died on the spot. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

By CHARLES WANYORO

Nine people died instantly while 11 others were injured after a matatu collided head on with a lorry, at Ikong’u bridge in Kiangima, Embu West Sub-County Thursday afternoon.

Six males and three women died instantly while the injured were admitted to the Embu Level Five hospital, three of them in critical condition.

The hospital’s medical superintendent Gerald Ndiritu said they received nine bodies that were retrieved from the mangled wreckages of the two vehicles.

He said of those admitted, nine were male, including a boy below 10 years while three were female.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that another passenger died upon being admitted to hospital.

OVERTAKING DOWNHILL

According Martin Murithi who witnessed the accident, the matatu belonging to Neno Sacco, which was traveling towards Embu Town, was overtaking a motorcyclist downhill when it collided with the lorry which was traveling in the opposite direction.

The area where the accident occurred is a known black spot since it has a sharp hill and a corner.

Among the dead was the driver of the lorry who was traveling alone.

Mr Murithi said many of the residents who arrived at the scene started stealing from the victims instead of rescuing.

Mr Kennedy Murimi, 17, who was among the survivors said the vehicle was overloaded and speeding.

“The driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle and it started swaying. The driver accelerated while overtaking the motorcycle,” he said.

Another survivor, Lewis Fundi, who suffered several bruises said the vehicle started wobbling while descending the hill.

“I was sitting between two seats since the vehicle was overloaded. After the accident, I was retrieved from under the lorry,” he told journalists at the hospital where he was receiving treatment.

Traffic police and Kenya Red Cross officials arrived at the scene and helped evacuate the injured and retrieve the bodies.

The bodies were removed to the Embu Level Five Hospital mortuary.

CREDIT SOURCE: NMG