Five dead, four injured in Subukia road accident

At least five people die, four others injured in road accident in Subukia, Nakuru County. [Standard, File]

Five people died on the spot while four others were seriously injured in a road accident that occurred at Subukia town on Tuesday evening.

 A police report indicated that a trailer ferrying logs from Nyahururu towards Nakuru hit a boda boda rider and his pillion passenger before landing in a ditch.

 “The lorry hit the boda boda from behind, veered off the road and then hit two pedestrians. It hit an electric pole and overturned in a trench off the road,” the police report read.

 A 35-year-old boda boda rider, his passenger and two male pedestrians aged 40 and 60 years, and a yet to be identified person are among those who died in the accident.

 Kamau Gathoni, a witness said that the lorry appeared to have lost its breaks as it descended the steep Subukia escarpment where the road has multiple sharp bends.

 “From our boda boda shade we saw the lorry hit a bump at high speed as it was approaching the town. Then it knocked off our colleague and his passenger before rolling over,” said Kamau.

 He explained that the trailer crashed on top of pedestrians and bystanders and trapped them under the heavy logs.

 “We struggled to remove the logs but they were too heavy. We succeeded to free them after a while but they were seriously injured and others killed,” said Kamau.

 The police report indicated that four people were rescued alive from under the logs with serious injuries.

 “Those injured include Agnes Wamuyu whose left leg was crushed, George Ngigi survived with a fracture on his left leg. Denis Mutai and Francis Njuguna sustained chest and head injuries respectively,” the police report read in part.

 The truck driver and his assistant also survived the accident with minor injuries.

 Subukia Senior Chief Norman Kiiru who was among the responders said that the scene was turning into a notorious blackspot even as he called on motorists, pedestrians and riders to be more cautious.

 “This is the third accident happening at the same spot recently. The residents proposed expansion of the road to make it safer. It is our plea to KeNHA to expedite the process to avert further disasters here,” said Kiiru.

 Area MP Samuel Gachobe who condoled with the bereaved families called on road users to be more cautious along the route especially during the festive season.

 “Some of these accidents are avoidable but where there is need for intervention, we shall push. The festive season is kicking in and more people will be on the roads. Drivers whould be more alert and observe traffic rules to avoid turning the festive period to mourning,” said Gachobe.