A 28-year-old driver transporting miraa has died while two other people sustained serious injuries after a Probox collided head-on with a sand-carrying lorry near Mutithi Trading Centre along the Mwea-Embu Highway in Mwea, Kirinyaga County.
The accident occurred on Friday, hours after a joint burial mass was held for 10 people who died in a road crash at Murubara the previous Saturday.
Witnesses working in nearby rice farms said they watched in shock as the lorry caught fire following the collision.
They alleged that the Probox was travelling at high speed when a motorcycle reportedly came into the path of the two vehicles, resulting in the head-on collision. The impact caused the Probox to roll and land in a nearby rice field.
Justin Njogu, a farmer who was working in the rice fields, said he heard a loud bang before seeing smoke rising from the scene.
“I heard a big bang then saw smoke and the lorry started burning. I could do nothing but pray that the driver would come out unhurt. The lorry driver and his turn-boy came out with slight injuries,” Njogu said.
Mwea-West Sub-County Police Commander Millicent Ngugi confirmed the crash, saying the Probox was travelling from Meru towards Nairobi, while the lorry was headed towards Ngurubani.
Ngugi said the three occupants of the Probox were rushed to White Rose Private Hospital, where the 28-year-old driver died while receiving treatment.
The other two occupants, aged 33 and 29, suffered serious injuries to their legs and heads and remained under medical care.
The deceased’s body was transferred to Kerugoya Hospital mortuary, while the Probox and lorry were towed to Wang’uru Police Station for inspection.
The fire that engulfed the lorry was eventually extinguished using a clean-water bowser from the Kirinyaga County Government.
The Probox was extensively damaged in the crash.
However, witnesses alleged that some residents initially scrambled for the miraa that had been packed inside the vehicle before turning their attention to the injured victims.
“As flames engulfed the lorry, residents were taking away miraa before helping the victims,” said Peter Muriithi.
The latest crash has renewed concerns over road safety along the busy Mwea-Embu Highway.
The accident occurred on the same day residents gathered at Karoti Girls High School for the burial of victims of the Murubara crash, which claimed 10 lives.
Residents are now calling for urgent measures to curb accidents along the highway, including road repairs, traffic-calming measures and expansion of the road.
