New details have emerged regarding the early morning accident that occurred around 4 am on Tuesday, August 20 in the Migaa area near Salgaa along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway which claimed the lives of 13 people.
The accident which also left 55 people sustaining critical injuries had left many in shock and mourning as authorities and rescue teams continued to assess the situation.
As of now, concerns are rife that the death toll could rise as rescuers fear that more bodies may still be trapped in the wreckage.
The survivors, who spoke to the media after the accident occurred, cited mechanical issues abound the bus travelling from Kakamega to Mombasa, carrying 71 passengers.
A wreckage of salon car involved in a road accident near Salgaa area along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway on August 20, 2024. /LINCOLN NJOGU
One survivor revealed that the passengers were initially opposed to travelling with the bus upon getting wind of information that it had departed Mombasa without being subjected to service checks.
“I was coming from Kisumu going to Mombasa. So the vehicle was meant to come from Mombasa to pick us up but we heard complaints that it left Mombasa without being serviced. It arrived and we left at around 4 am.
“We got to Kericho but the bus was not climbing the hills properly. Passengers got annoyed and declared that we could not continue with the journey if the vehicle failed to be taken for service,” the survivor recounted.
They voiced their concerns to the driver, but it was too late. The brakes had failed, and the bus was out of control.
“Realising that an accident was imminent, we began to pray. Our vehicle eventually collided with a private car and overturned, resulting in the tragic death of many passengers, including a woman who was sitting next to me,” she continued.
Another survivor revealed that he was on the bus heading to Mombasa for work. He described the terrifying moments immediately after the crash, saying “I saw darkness, and then I heard people crying. I hit the window and went outside.”
The chaos and confusion following the accident left many passengers in a state of shock. Some were trapped inside the overturned bus, while others managed to escape through broken windows.
The bus was en route to Mombasa from Kakamega when it lost control and rammed into a salon car before it rolled over the highway.
Photos seen by Viral Tea showed the wreckage of the bus was captured in an upside-down position with glass scattered along the highway whereas the car was severely damaged.
Those injured were rushed to the Coptic and Molo hospitals for treatment with the deceased taken to the same hospitals. Meanwhile, the police launched investigations into the root cause of the accident.
Along the same highway, a woman and her four sons were on Tuesday, August 13 killed in a road accident in the Mbaruk area of the Nakuru-Nairobi highway in Gilgil.
The accident along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway on August 13. /PHOTO
