Two burn to death in Ntulele trailer accident

By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

Narok, Kenya: Police watched helplessly as two people burnt to death after a trailer they were traveling in from Nairobi to Kisumu crashed at Ntulele area along the Narok-Mai Mahiu Highway Wednesday morning.

Its driver reportedly lost control before it rammed onto a rail along the road at Pinyiny area. The ill-fated trailer then rolled severally before catching fire moments.

The trailer that was carrying Keg Beer to Kisumu disentangled from the driver’s cabin and hurtled several metres along the road.

“We arrived at the scene moments after the accident. What we managed to establish is that the driver lost control of the vehicle, hit the road side rails before rolling and catching fire,” said Corporal David Chumo, a traffic officer based at Ntulele Police Station in Narok East.

Chumo said police could not rescue the victims because the fire was fierce.

The accident occurred a few metres from the scene where 44 people died in August last year when a bus veered off the road and landed in a cliff.

In October the same year, nine people who were traveling in a 14 seater matatu from perished in the same spot when it collided head on with bus.

Narok County Police Commander Samuel Mukindia said the trailer which police had difficulties in recovering its wreckage, might have had break hitches that threw the cargo off the road before crashing.

He said the section of the 90km road recently refurbished was clearly marked with warning sign posts and asked motorists to exercise caution.

“Following series of accidents in the section, clear signs have been erected to warn motorists and indicate the speed they should use. If they follow the instructions, accidents will be minimised,” he added.

The charred remains of the victims were moved to Narok North District Hospital Mortuary while the trailer was extensively burnt were towed to Ntulele Police station.