Tyre burst, speeding cause of Mau Summit accident that killed 15

The wreckage of the bus belonging to Classic Kings was involved in a tragic accident after it collided head-on with North Ways Shuttle matatu at Twin Bridge along the Nakuru - Eldoret highway on January 9, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] Harriet Haber's journey to Nairobi to seek medication for her ailing sister was cut short hours after they left their Kampala home. Haber said she was traveling to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi to meet a well-wisher who had promised to help them meet a doctor to attend to the sister. The two left home with the blessings of the family members who wished them well and journey mercies. Haber, who was among survivors of an early morning accident involving a bus and a matatu at the Twin Bridge area around Mau Summit, said their journey started well. They left Kampala on Monday evening. The journey, she said, started well until they crossed the Malaba border when the bus driver started speeding. All the occupants of the matatu passed on. "When we crossed into Kenya, the vehicle kept hitting bumps, and the driver started speeding," she said. She said on reaching the area of the accident, they had a Tyre burst, and the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a matatu heading to Eldoret. She revealed that she lost some items at the accident scene, including her phone, laptop, and money. For Ibrahim Mohammed, the incident was one he had never experienced. Mohammed narrated his experience amid sobs, having seen bodies of people and their belongings scattered all over the highway. He noted that the bus driver was to blame as he was speeding. "I have traveled many times to various countries, and this is my first time witnessing such an accident. Losing such a number, especially such a time of the year, is painful," he said. Shadrack Ikunda, who was also aboard the King Classic Bus, said he was heading to Dar es Salaam through Kenya. Ikunda said he saw the driver and the conductor escape after the incident. Police officers had to assist the passengers in getting the means to continue with their journey to their destination. Kuresoi North Sub-County Police Commander Judah Gathenge said the Nissan matatu was ascending a hill while the bus was descending. "The driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle and collided head-on with the matatu, and we lost 15 people, including seven children aged between one and 15," he said. He said 38 people who were aboard the bus sustained minor injuries. He said the driver of the matatu died and was yet to get the driver of the bus, adding that investigations were underway to establish the cause of the accident. Gathenge said the area where the accident occurred was a black spot and called on road users to be cautious and observe safety rules.

Tyre burst, speeding cause of Mau Summit accident that killed 15

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Tyre burst, speeding cause of Mau Summit accident that killed 15

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