One dies in fuel tanker accident

BY SAMMY JAKAA

One person perished following an accident that involved a fuel tanker at Koteko area, along the Malaba/Bungoma highway in Bungoma County.

The driver of the tanker is said to have lost control after its tyres burst, rolling severally before exploding.

The fuel tanker carrying 35,000 litres of diesel was destined to Kampala, Uganda.

Teso OCPD Elphas Korir confirmed that one person had died as a result of the early morning accident yesterday.

“We can only confirm at the moment that one person has died but we are investigating to establish whether there was a second person in the truck at the time of the accident,” he said.

He said the police had requested for a fire extinguisher from Bungoma but is too late.

“The tanker was going down the slope when the rear tyres burst before rolling several times then burst into flames, the explosion threw the driver out through the windscreen and when he attempted to run to safety the flame caught up with him.” recounted a witness.

 

 ENDS