By Willis Oketch

Two students from St Mary Teachers Training College, Bura in Taita Taveta County on Saturday died in a road accident at Bonje area on Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

The two died where another accident claimed more than 14 lives last week near Mombasa.

Members of the public view the St Mary’s Teachers Training College bus after the accident at Bonje near Mazeras on Mombasa-Nairobi highway, on Saturday.  [Photo: Maarufu Mohamed/Standard]

The second year students who died only a few minutes before reaching their destination were traveling to Mombasa for an educational tour.

Coast Provincial Police Traffic Commandant Joshua Omukata confirmed the incident and said 30 students on the bus were rushed to Coast Provincial Hospital.

Omukata said the bus overturned after the driver lost control.

He advised drivers to be cautious when using the road, between Maseras and Miritini as they approach Bonje area, as it is a slope with many bends while.

Before the incident, a pedestrian, John Rashul, said he saw the bus swerving off the road twice. It then returned to the road before overturning.

The bus overturned and crashed a passenger who tried to jump off.

“At first I saw a red thing falling off the bus before the vehicle fell. I rushed to the scene and realised that had bus crashed the person” said Rashul

Rashul said when members of the public rushed to the scene to help the victims, the driver got out of the vehicle and ran away with head injuries.

Omukata said the driver took refuge at an Administration Police camp in the area after fearing he will be lynched by members of the public.

A student, Evan Krop, recalled how they left the college at 5am and on reaching the fateful place the bus swerved of the road at overturned.

Among those who escaped death include the college’s principal Denis Onzombi and other staff members.

Krop said there were 51 students and four senior staff members in the bus.

Most of the students, who were slightly injured, were rushed to Mariakani Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

Area leaders called on the Government to erecta  concrete wall to help reduce accidents in the area.

Rabai constituency parliamentary aspirant Julius Saha demanded action from the Kenya Highways Authority who he said had neglected the vital road and allowied vandals to steal the guardrails.