Six people have lost their lives following an early morning road accident along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa Highway after a bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a trailer.
According to reports, the crash occurred in the Manyatta area of Taita Taveta County after a PSV bus belonging to Chania Sacco lost control moments before it was hit by the trailer along the busy stretch.
Witnesses said the Chania Executive bus driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle when the truck rammed into the bus, crushing its right side before the vehicle veered off the highway.
Police officers and emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and coordinated rescue operations to assist passengers who had been trapped inside the wreckage.
Several passengers who sustained injuries were rushed to Moi Referral Hospital in Voi for treatment as investigations into the cause of the accident continue.
The impact left the passenger bus severely damaged, with the six victims – who were mainly seated on the driver’s side – dying on the spot.
The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway has recorded several similar accidents in the past. On December 7 last year, at least seven people died in a head-on collision involving a matatu and a truck in the Miasenyi area of Taita Taveta County.
Police said the matatu, belonging to Kinatwa Company, was heading towards Mombasa and was attempting to overtake other vehicles when it collided head-on with a truck. The bodies of the victims, including the driver, were taken to the Moi Referral Hospital-Voi mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Meanwhile, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has warned motorists to exercise caution due to ongoing heavy rains that have increased the risk of road accidents.
“Heavy downpours may cause traffic delays, temporary road closures, and increased accident risks, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. The Authority will continue to monitor the situation and respond promptly to affected road sections,” KeNHA said.