Traffic along Mombasa Road came to a standstill on Monday morning after two trailers collided and caught fire near Greenpark Estate in Athi River, creating a gridlock stretching close to five kilometres.
The crash reportedly happened when one of the trailers lost control and rammed into another truck travelling in the same direction. Moments after the impact, both vehicles burst into flames. Photos and videos circulating online showed the overturned trucks completely consumed by fire, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air.
Witnesses said the container trucks were heading toward Nairobi at the time of the accident. The collision blocked all lanes leading to the capital on the busy highway, leaving commuters stranded for hours and triggering widespread frustration among motorists.
It remains unclear what cargo the trucks were carrying. By the time the images surfaced, emergency response teams had yet to arrive at the scene. Drivers and passengers travelling to Nairobi for work and other engagements were the most affected, with many forced to wait as efforts to restore traffic flow continued.
Police had not immediately confirmed whether there were fatalities or injuries linked to the incident.
Elsewhere, a minor accident also disrupted traffic along Waiyaki Way near Lion’s Place, close to Westlands Roundabout. The incident involved a 14-seater matatu and a saloon car, briefly affecting traffic on the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway before officers intervened and cleared the road.
The incidents come barely a week after a fatal crash along the Mombasa–Nairobi highway in Makueni County, where two people lost their lives and another sustained serious injuries.