Eight people died on Thursday evening after a 14-seater matatu belonging to the Naekana Sacco collided with a lorry in Salama, along the Mombasa highway.
The accident was confirmed by Makueni police commander Barbanas Ngendo, who added that several people were also injured in the 11 pm incident.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to Kilungu hospital while the wreckage was towed to Salama police station awaiting further investigations.
A statement issued by Naekana Sacco management stated one of their shuttle (KCY 382W), traveling from Loitoktok to Nairobi was involved in a fatal head-on collision with a trailer at Salama area (Kiima Kiu) a few minutes to midnight.
According to police reports, the Naekana shuttle was on the right lane when the killer trailer lost control and rammed into the passenger vehicle.
The Salama-based police emergency response team and the public responded quickly and rushed the injured to Kilungu Sub-County hospital.
“Sadly, we lost five people on the spot. Four others succumbed to injuries while receiving care at the hospital,” read the statement in part.
“We from the NAEKANA MANAGEMENT wish the injured a quick recovery and send our sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones,” the statement added.
Road safety
The management of the Sacco has urged the public fraternity to remember the hospitalized individuals and the families of the deceased in prayers.
They have also called upon all road users to be their “brother’s keeper on the road”.
“Let us drive carefully at all times, irrespective of the type and size of vehicle we operate,” the Sacco said.
“Naekana Sacco prioritises the safety of (our) esteemed customers and it is unfortunate that such incidents occur,” they added.
This accident comes barely a day after 12 people died in Ndii area of Taita Taveta county when a matatu also collided with a truck.
This has mostly been attributed to speeding, human error, and bad road designs.
